Afghanistan, Nov. 8 -- Israeli President Isaac Herzog has tasked former military chief Gadi Eisenkot with forming the country's next government after an October 27 election left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition short of a parliamentary majority. The decision gives Netanyahu's strongest political rival the first opportunity to build a governing coalition and potentially end the veteran prime minister's tenure.
Reuters reported on Sunday that Netanyahu's Likud party secured 27 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while his broader coalition won 53, short of the 61 required for a majority. Eisenkot's Yashar party won 21 seats, and his four-party opposition bloc secured 48. Two Arab-led parties gained a combined ...