Herzog taps Eisenkot to form Israel's next government, passing over Netanyahu

Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced Saturday night that he will give Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot the first chance to form Israel's next government. Eisenkot will formally receive the mandate at a ceremony at the President's Residence on Sunday at 5 p.m. He will then have 28 days to build a coalition, and Herzog can extend that by up to 14 days.

Herzog's office said factions totaling 67 Knesset members recommended Eisenkot, against 46 for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while United Torah Judaism's seven members recommended no one. Herzog met both men before deciding.

Eisenkot's path to 61 is still unclear. His Jewish-led bloc holds 48 seats, and three of its parties have so far refused to partner with the two Arab-led parties, which hold 19. Hours earlier, Netanyahu called for a national unity government and warned that a coalition backed by "supporters of terrorism" would "dismantle the State of Israel from within." Yashar called the speech "hysterical."

Update, Saturday evening: Ynet reported that Avigdor Liberman is rejecting a minority government backed by Arab parties and wants a 61-seat majority that could include Haredi support, complicating Eisenkot's path after Herzog tapped him to form a government.