The President of Israel, Yitzhak Herzog, officially gave the mandate to form the next government to the head of the opposition party Isr, Gadi Eisenkot, after the parliamentary elections on October 27.
"I am giving you the mandate to form a government and I wish you great success," Herzog told Eisenkot in a ceremony broadcast in the office of the Israeli head of state.
According to Israeli laws, after receiving the mandate, Eisenkot will have 28 days to secure the support of the majority of members of the 120-seat Knesset (Parliament) and form a ruling coalition. If he does not do so within this time, this period can be extended by another 14 days.