Israel opposition leader given green light to form broad coalition

Israel's opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot is seeking a broad coalition after receiving the green light to form the next government, with President Isaac Herzog having earlier sworn in the newest members of the nation's lawmaking body.

Israeli opposition politician and leader of the Yashar party Gadi Eisenkot said talks would be held to explore various ways to expand the coalition and secure the broadest possible national agreement, with President Isaac Herzog having given him six weeks to complete the task.

This after elections were held in a deeply divided Israel currently embroiled in armed conflicts on multiple fronts.

However, such talks do not guarantee Eisenkot the position of prime minister.

Having sworn in the latest lawmakers in the Knesset, Herzog urged members to work together to from a new government, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ministers remaining in a caretaker position.

Outside the Knesset, rival groups of protestors gathered as one side demanded the new government be made up exclusively of Zionist parties, while the other demanded the next government to oust Netanyahu and the inclusion of Arab parties.

Arabs want to overthrow our government.

Certainly Hamas wants to destroy us.

How could such people ever be in government?

What sanity would allow such horrible people into our government.

This is not democracy, this is foolishness.

We must be a Zionist country.

All this large percentage of Israeli Arabs -- a lot of them were living here before the state was established.

For many years already, they proved real responsibility.

They are excellent citizens.

I think it's time that everyone will collaborate and we look for new ways of thinking.

Meanwhile, in the West Bank village of Qusra, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians and activists during an olive harvest, with several people ended up injured.

A number of activists said the settlers attacked them with sticks, rocks and flagpoles.

The group also assaulted the members of the Israeli military in the area who responded with tear gas.