At 1700 local time on the 8th (2300 Beijing), Israeli President Herzog
authorized former IDF chief of staff and party leader Eisenkot to form a new
government after Eisenkot received 67 Knesset recommendations. The authorization
does not guarantee a parliamentary majority: the Knesset has 120 seats and the
coalition threshold is 61. Eisenkot must now negotiate coalition policy and
cabinet posts with potential partners. Under Israeli law the authorized lawmaker
has 28 days to form a government; the president may extend that period by up to
14 days. If he fails, the president may mandate another lawmaker 28 days to try,
without further extension.
