Can Israel’s opposition end the Netanyahu era without agreeing on Palestine?

BEIRUT: Gadi Eisenkot may be closer than any Israeli opposition figure in years to ending Benjamin Netanyahu’s grip on power, but replacing Israel’s longest-serving prime minister could prove easier than governing the country that Netanyahu leaves behind.

President Isaac Herzog announced on Saturday that the former military chief would be given the first opportunity to form a government after parties representing 67 members of the 120-seat Knesset recommended him for the job. Netanyahu received 46 recommendations, while the seven-member United Torah Judaism endorsed neither candidate.

On paper Eisenkot has a majority; in practice he commands only 48 seats.

His Yashar party won 21 in the Oct. 27 election, Naftali Bennett’s B’Yachad secured 12, Yair Golan’s Democrats took eight and Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu won seven.