Israel's President Isaac Herzog has decided to give opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot the mandate to form the country's next government, a major setback for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Herzog announced his decision on Saturday evening, November 7, and Eisenkot will formally receive the mandate on Sunday at 5 p.m. He will then have 28 days to put together a coalition of at least 61 of the Knesset's 120 seats, and the president can grant him an extension of up to 14 days. Eisenkot, who leads the Yashar party, was recommended by lawmakers representing 67 seats, compared with 46 for Netanyahu, and he has said it is time for a "national emergency government."

Having the mandate does not mean Eisenkot has a government, because the numbers get complicated quickly. His own bloc holds 48 seats, and the other 19 recommendations came from the Arab-led Joint List and Ra'am, which have not committed to joining his coalition or guaranteeing support, and Eisenkot has ruled out including them in his government. Avigdor Liberman has rejected any government that depends on Arab factions, while reports say the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism could cooperate with Eisenkot and Shas might not oppose him, although Shas has called those reports fake news. Some analysts expect a minority government with outside support, and Arab party leader Ahmad Tibi has said he believes that is where things are heading. Netanyahu, for his part, has warned that a government relying on Arab support would put Israel at risk, so the next four weeks could decide whether his time in power ends or whether he finds a way to hold on.