Herzog hands Eisenkot the task of forming a new government in Israel.
The President of Israel, Yitzhak Herzog, on Sunday (8) gave opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot the official mandate to form a new government. He is the main opponent of the current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The appointment occurred after parties representing 67 of the 120 seats in the Knesset recommended Eisenkot for the job. The October elections did not give a majority to any of the political blocs.
The opposition will have 42 days to negotiate a coalition capable of bringing together at least 61 MPs. If he cannot do so, the mandate may pass to another candidate, according to the rules of the process.