President Isaac Herzog's office says he will formally give Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot the mandate
By Sammy Tisser,
President Isaac Herzog's office says he will formally give Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot the mandate to form Israel's next government at 5 p.m. Sunday at the President's Residence. Herzog informed Eisenkot of his decision Saturday evening after holding further talks over the weekend, following the formal round of consultations that ended Thursday.
Factions representing 67 of the Knesset's 120 members backed Eisenkot for the mandate, while factions representing 46 backed Prime Minister and Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu. One faction with seven seats declined to recommend a candidate.
Once Eisenkot receives the mandate, he will have 28 days to form a government. Herzog can grant him up to 14 additional days under Israel's Basic Law.
Topics: Israeli Politics, Diplomacy
Reported by Sammy Tisser for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.