Wire reporting: (AP, via CBS News), (AFP, via RTE News), (Reuters, via Al-Monitor)

Israeli President Isaac Herzog formally tasked Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot on Sunday with forming the next government after the Oct. 27 election left no bloc with a Knesset majority^1,3,4,11.

Eisenkot, a former military chief, has 28 days to assemble a coalition, and Herzog can add 14 days^7,11,12. If he fails, Netanyahu is expected to get a turn; if both fail, another election is possible^1,4,12,24.

Al Jazeera and ABC News Australia said parties totaling 67 incoming lawmakers recommended Eisenkot and 46 recommended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu^7,24. ABC said United Torah Judaism's seven seats backed neither man²⁴.

Netanyahu's religious-nationalist camp won 53 of 120 seats and Eisenkot's four-party list won 48, with two Arab-led lists at a record 19, according to CBS News, Al Jazeera and ABC^1,7,24. ABC listed Yashar at 21 seats and Likud at 27²⁴.

Eisenkot called at the presidential residence for a national emergency government and said partners must accept Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, national service for all, and treating Hamas as a terrorist organization whose military capacity should be destroyed^4,12,19.

He said Likud and Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism could join under his leadership and principles^4,12,25.

Netanyahu has called for a unity government of Zionist parties and ruled out governing with Arab-led parties, CBS News and Dawn reported^1,12. He remains caretaker prime minister until a new cabinet is sworn in^1,4.

Avigdor Lieberman of Yisrael Beiteinu has opposed a minority government relying on Arab parties and a unity deal with Netanyahu, while signaling he could sit with ultra-Orthodox parties if they accept a military-service law, according to Dawn, the Reuters account carried by Al-Monitor, and ABC^12,21,24.

ABC outlined other paths: a 48-seat minority needing outside Arab votes; a 61-seat deal adding Shas and United Torah Judaism; a 67-seat Jewish-Arab coalition; or a unity cabinet with Likud²⁴. Al Jazeera said Eisenkot has ruled out a government with Arab-led parties⁷. CBS said he has indicated he could work with them if they meet conditions on Hamas¹.

Herzog and Eisenkot pointed to regional pressure, including Iran, Gaza, Lebanon talks and political developments in the United States, Dawn reported¹². France 24 said Shin Bet is investigating possible foreign interference while the elections committee and Herzog treat the certified result as valid⁴. CBS cited the committee's acting director saying there was no basis for claims of systematic vote compromise¹.

What remains unknown is whether Eisenkot can convert recommendations into a confidence vote before the clock runs out^11,24.