Israel President Isaac Herzog has promised nominating Prime Minister candidate on Sunday, saying the election deadlock remained unresolved due to divisions within and between political blocs.
Israel’s opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot secured the backing of 67 lawmakers on Thursday to form a government, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received support from 46 members of the 120-seat Knesset.
Netanyahu’s Likud party won 27 seats, but his broader religious-nationalist alliance secured only 53. Eisenkot’s four-party bloc won 48 seats, while two Arab-led parties secured a combined 19 seats and endorsed him.
Netanyahu suffered a setback when United Torah Judaism, a longstanding coalition ally, declined to recommend either candidate..
The presidential nominee will have 28 days to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension. Netanyahu will remain in charge of a caretaker government until a new administration takes office or another election is called.
