Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog gave Gadi Eisenkot (head of the Ishr Party, former Chief of Staff) the mandate to form a government while bypassing Netanyahu. After the elections on October 27, neither side achieved a majority: 67 Knesset members (including Arab parties) recommended Eisenkot, 46, to Netanyahu.
Eisenkot refused a coalition with Arab parties, which reduces his chances of winning 61 votes. He is trying to enlist the support of the ultra-Orthodox and the Likud to create a "national unity government". Netanyahu is proposing a similar coalition, but with all his former allies, including Smotrich's religious Zionism.
Eisenkot has 28 days (with a possible extension of 14) to form a coalition. If it fails, the mandate will go to Netanyahu. Until the new government receives a vote of confidence, Netanyahu remains prime minister. No policy changes regarding Gaza, Lebanon and Iran are expected. Eisenkot in 2008 developed the "repelling doctrine", a strategy for destroying civilian infrastructure in hostile areas.