Ra’am Party to Recommend Eisenkot for Mandate to Form Israeli Government
The Islamist party’s backing strengthens the Yashar! leader’s lead over Netanyahu in recommendations as President Isaac Herzog holds consultations.
Choose Clash Report as a preferred source and see our reporting first in Top Stories.
The Islamist Ra’am party will recommend Gadi Eisenkot to form Israel’s next government, Israel Hayom reported on Wednesday. The move boosts the Yashar! leader’s bid to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Ra’am is due to meet President Isaac Herzog on Thursday at 12:15 p.m. local time, according to Ynet. Herzog began consultations with the parties on Wednesday.
Recommendations Tally
Before Ra’am’s decision, Eisenkot was expected to receive 48 recommendations, Ynet reported. These come from Yashar!, Beyachad, the Democrats and Yisrael Beytenu.
Netanyahu was projected to get 46, from Likud, Otzma Yehudit, Shas and the Religious Zionist party. The Joint List and United Torah Judaism have yet to announce their picks.
No Majority Yet
Neither candidate commands the 61 seats needed in the 120-member Knesset. A senior Joint List official said both Arab parties were expected to back Eisenkot, the Jerusalem Post reported.
The mandate does not automatically go to the candidate with the most recommendations. Herzog assigns it to the lawmaker seen as most likely to build a coalition. Netanyahu has rejected relying on Arab parties.
Kamer Kurunç
Kamer Kurunç is the Team Leader of Clash Report and has led the outlet for four years. He oversees its breaking world news coverage, from the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war to defense and global politics. His focus is fast, verified, source-based reporting. Follow him on X at @kamerknc.
Choose Clash Report as a preferred source and see our reporting first in Top Stories.