Eisenkot tipped to seek Israel government as religious party drops Netanyahu

Gadi Eisenkot emerged on Thursday as the favourite to be tasked with trying to form an Israeli government as a religious party long aligned with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to recommend him.
President Isaac Herzog was holding a second day of consultations with political parties after the October 27 election, in which neither Netanyahu — a polarising right-winger who has led Israel through three years of war — nor Eisenkot — a former military chief promising to restore national unity — secured enough votes for a majority.
Herzog will choose by himself whom to ask to form a new government but traditionally the mandate is given to the person recommended by more parties, wh...