Wire reporting: (AP, via KSL), (Reuters, via Dawn)

Israel's new Knesset was sworn in on Tuesday, Nov. 10, without a government in place, after the Oct. 27 election left both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot short of a 61-seat majority^1,4,6.

President Isaac Herzog had given Eisenkot, a former military chief who leads the Yashar party, the first chance to form a coalition, after 67 of 120 members recommended him compared with 46 for Netanyahu^1,5.

Netanyahu remains caretaker prime minister with authority over national security until a new government wins confidence. His right-wing and religious alliance holds 53 seats; Eisenkot's four-party bloc holds 48; Arab-led lists hold a record 19^1,2,4,6,7.

Eisenkot has an initial 28 days, until Dec. 6, with a possible two-week extension to Dec. 20^1,7. Herzog, opening the session, urged lawmakers to avoid another election and to compromise across rival camps^3,4,6.

Eisenkot has called for a national emergency government and listed four conditions for partners: Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, the values of the Declaration of Independence, service obligations for communities now exempt, and treating Hamas as a terrorist organization whose military and governing capacity should be dismantled^1,2.

Those terms clash with ultra-Orthodox parties that oppose ending draft exemptions and with Arab-led parties that have not publicly adopted Eisenkot's Hamas language and generally do not serve in the military^1,3. Avigdor Lieberman, whose Yisrael Beiteinu holds seven seats in Eisenkot's camp, has refused a minority government that depends on Arab lawmakers^1,3,4.

Yashar and allies submitted bills for an independent inquiry into the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks, term limits for the prime minister, and repeal of judicial changes passed under Netanyahu^2,3,7. They also moved to replace Speaker Amir Ohana; Ohana said he would allow a successor vote next Tuesday after a request from 67 members, while opposing the emerging coalition's intent^2,3. The opposition named Matan Kahana as its speaker candidate^3,4.

Netanyahu, after the session, again sought a unity government of Zionist parties that he would lead and argued against relying on Arab parties^1,2,3. Eisenkot said the speech showed Netanyahu was unfit to stay in office and canceled a planned Wednesday meeting with Likud^2,3.

The first sitting was tense: some Arab lawmakers left during the anthem, and far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir heckled Joint List leader Yousef Jabareen^3,4.

Ultra-Orthodox parties have so far said they would not join an Eisenkot-led government; if Eisenkot fails, Herzog is expected to turn next to Netanyahu, and repeated failure can force another election^5,6,7.

Netanyahu has alleged fraud involving Arab voters; election officials have said they have seen no evidence of fraud that would change the outcome^6,7.