Herzog gives Eisenkot up to six weeks to form Israel's next government

President Isaac Herzog on Sunday tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming Israel's next government, after his four-party alliance won 48 seats in the 27 October election against 53 for Netanyahu's bloc, both short of the 61 needed for a majority. Eisenkot has ruled out the Arab-led parties, who would give him 67 seats, but could reach 61 with the two ultra-Orthodox parties; he says he welcomes Netanyahu's Likud joining a unity government, and has an initial 28 days, extendable by 14 more, that is, six weeks at most.

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