Ra'am to Recommend Eisenkot for Prime Minister, Likely Giving Him First Shot at Forming Government

Ra'am has announced that it will recommend Gadi Eisenkot to form Israel's next government, putting the Yashar chairman ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the expected count of recommendations to President Isaac Herzog.

The party's eight incoming lawmakers bring Eisenkot's total to 56, compared with 53 for Netanyahu. The Joint List holds the remaining 11 seats and may abstain from recommending a candidate. Neither side has the backing of a 61-seat majority in the 120-member Knesset.

Eisenkot's lead in recommendations makes him the likely first choice for a mandate to form a coalition, but Herzog has not yet made that decision. If selected, Eisenkot could have up to 42 days to assemble a government, including an extension.

The recommendation count does not guarantee a governing majority. Eisenkot pledged before the election not to include Ra'am in his government, while his ally Avigdor Liberman has said he would not support a minority government.

Those positions leave a difficult path from the president's consultations to a working coalition, even if Eisenkot receives the first opportunity to try.