Symbolic imageEisenkot gains backing as Israel's coalition deadlock persists
Neither bloc has 61 seats after Israel's election, and Bennett's party and the Arab parties are set to recommend Gadi Eisenkot to the president. Likud's claim of a stolen vote is rejected by the election committee chairman.
On Sunday, 1 November, Naftali Bennett's B'Yachad announced it will recommend Yashar leader Eisenkot to President Isaac Herzog, whose consultations start Wednesday. A senior Joint List official told Walla that the Joint List and Ra'am will do the same; with the opposition's 48 seats and their 19, Eisenkot would reach 67, against 53 for Netanyahu's bloc. Herzog urged leaders to accept the results and "stop climbing trees". Joint List's Ahmad Tibi said his party will not join a government.
Fraud claims under investigation
Likud calls the vote stolen, but election committee chairman Noam Sohlberg said on Sunday that even confirmed foreign funding would not undermine the results. The Shin Bet is examining whether a Joint List lawmaker received Qatari money, which Qatar denies; KAN reports Shin Bet head David Zini clashed with three senior officials over widening the tools used.
Fight over the Knesset speaker
Opposition leaders reportedly plan to replace Speaker Amir Ohana when the Knesset is sworn in on 10 November. Netanyahu ally Benny Biton called this a red line and said Netanyahu wants a unity government.