Israeli opposition unites behind Eisenkot as Netanyahu says voters chose him for PM

Key Points:

• Israeli opposition leaders, led by Gadi Eisenkot, will meet to coordinate their next steps after endorsing him for prime minister following a closely contested election that produced no clear majority.
• Eisenkot's bloc won 48 seats while incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu's camp secured 53 seats, with Arab-majority parties winning a record 19 seats, positioning them as potential kingmakers in coalition talks.
• Netanyahu has called for a broad coalition government excluding Arab parties, accusing them of supporting terrorism and denying the Jewish state's existence, while Arab party leaders have condemned recent Hamas attacks but reject defining Israel as a Jewish state.
• Within the opposition, there is disagreement over partnering with Arab parties; some leaders support collaboration while others, including right-wing figures, oppose it, complicating coalition formation efforts.
• President Isaac Herzog will begin consultations with party representatives to select a candidate to form a government, with deadlines set for coalition formation and potential new elections if no government is formed.