Eisenkot officially receives mandate to form Israeli gov't

Israeli President Isaac Herzog officially tasked opposition leader and Yashar party head Gadi Eisenkot with forming a new government on November 8. Eisenkot has 28 days to build a coalition government, with a possible 14-day extension. If he fails, the mandate is expected to move to outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Eisenkot stated he intends to form a national emergency and invited members of other parties to join under his core principles. His new policies include recognizing Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, upholding the Declaration of Independence, enforcing mandatory military service for all, and committing to the destruction of Hamas.