Israeli President Invites Yashar Party Leader Gadi Eisenkot to Form Government

Tel-Aviv: Israeli voters have voted Benjamin Netanyahu out of power. President Isaac Herzog has invited  the leader of the Yashar party and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government.

The official document authorising Eisenkot to form a new government will be handed over to him at a ceremony in Jerusalem this evening. Netanyahu will continue as caretaker prime minister until the new government assumes office. Eisenkot has been given 28 days to form the government, with a possible extension of another 14 days if required.

The opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot secured 48 seats. With the support of the Joint List, which won 11 seats, and the Ra'am party, which secured eight, Eisenkot's alliance gained the backing of 67 members, enabling it to form the government.

Netanyahu's ruling coalition, which previously held 68 seats, managed to secure only 53 seats this time. Only 46 members personally support Netanyahu.

Although both Eisenkot and Netanyahu had earlier said they would not accept the support of the two Arab parties, Eisenkot secured their backing with the aim of ousting Netanyahu.