Israeli President Herzog tasks Gadi Eisenkot with forming new government

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has officially tasked former military chief Gadi Eisenkot with forming a new government, marking a potential political shift following the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu. The 66-year-old former Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff stated that his team will "do everything to demonstrate that we are up to the task" as he begins navigating complex coalition negotiations. If successful in securing a majority, Eisenkot would become the country's first Mizrahi prime minister, representing Jews of Middle Eastern and North African origin. His mandate comes amid a tense geopolitical backdrop marked by fragile regional ceasefire agreements and political fragmentation among potential coalition partners.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.