Presidential consultations enter final stretch in selection of prime minister

Key Points:

• Two of the four factions consulted by President Isaac Herzog, the Democrats and Ra’am, recommended Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government, positioning him ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
• Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas emphasized the party’s support for Hamas disarmament and condemned all forms of terrorism, while advocating for Arab society to act as a bridge for reconciliation and peace.
• The far-right Otzma Yehudit party backed Netanyahu, alleging election interference and demanding condemnation of Hamas as a condition for coalition talks, while the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party abstained from recommending any candidate amid tensions with Netanyahu.
• The opposition bloc, combined with the Arab parties’ 19 seats, holds a potential 67-seat majority, increasing the likelihood that Herzog will grant Eisenkot the mandate to form a government over Netanyahu.
• Discussions highlighted deep political divisions, including debates over Arab party inclusion in coalitions, haredi conscription issues, and Netanyahu’s delegitimization of opposition members, underscoring ongoing challenges in forming a unity government.