Israel's New Parliament to Be Sworn In Amid Government Formation Race
· World · BBC News, France 24
Israel's new parliament is scheduled to be sworn in on Tuesday as opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot seeks to form a government and oust caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. President Isaac Herzog tasked Eisenkot with building a coalition after the former army chief received the backing of 67 members of the 120-seat Knesset, compared to 46 for Netanyahu. Both leaders face an uphill struggle to secure a majority, as Eisenkot's bloc won 48 seats in last month's election while Netanyahu's bloc secured 53. Eisenkot has 28 days to build a coalition, with a possible two-week extension, and has called for a national emergency government requiring unconventional political steps. One of the most dramatic results of the election was the performance of Israel's two Arab-led alliances, the United Arab List and the Joint List, which won an unprecedented 19 seats between them following a surge in voter turnout.
Why it matters
The political deadlock and upcoming coalition negotiations directly determine Israel's next administration and future policy direction, with Arab-led parties potentially holding the balance of power.
Read the original report — BBC News
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