Israeli president taps opposition Gadi Eisenkot to form coalition

The Israeli President Issac Herzog has tapped opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to form a governing coalition in the wake of the October 27 general elections that dealt a blow to the country's longest-serving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Crowds of demonstrators held rallies in rainy weather on Saturday in Tel Aviv against a Netanyahu-led majority in the new government, with some saying he is corrupt and "manipulating most of the people in Israel that voted for him."

Just as the protests ended, Israeli President Issac Herzog announced late Saturday that he was giving Eisenkot the first opportunity to form a governing coalition of at least 61 seats, which would make the former military chief a step closer to oust Netanyahu.

Eisenkot has no more than six months to undertake the task.

Netanyahu and his allies fell short of a majority in the elections last month, nor did the bloc led by Eisenkot.

Representatives from most of Israel's main parties recommended Eisenkot to assemble a new government in discussions with the president this week.

Analysts say the prime minister-designate is facing a complex task in uniting a highly divisive parliament after over three years of war in Gaza.

The Arab-led parties, which made historic gains, are likely the potential but politically fraught kingmakers in building the coalition as Eisenkot could create a "minority government" shored up by their support.

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