JERUSALEM, Nov. 9 -- Israeli President Isaac Herzog has given opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot the first chance to form the country's next government, a setback for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after an inconclusive election on October 27. Eisenkot, a former military chief who leads the Yashar party, received the mandate formally at a ceremony on Sunday, The New York Times reported.

The decision does not hand Eisenkot a government. He has 28 days to assemble a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension, and must then win a vote of confidence in the Knesset. That gives him up to six weeks to secure the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat parliament. Until then, Netanyahu remains caretaker prime minister.

An election with ...