Wire reporting: (Reuters, via CNA)

Israel’s newly elected parliament was sworn in Tuesday in Jerusalem without a government in place, as former army chief Gadi Eisenkot tried to assemble a coalition after President Isaac Herzog tasked him on Sunday with forming one^2,3,1.

BBC said Eisenkot’s four-party bloc won 48 seats in the Oct. 27 election and caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc 53, leaving both short of a majority in the 120-seat Knesset; Arab-led lists won a record 19 seats¹.

CNA, carrying Reuters, said Eisenkot’s initial deadline is Dec. 6, with a possible two-week extension to Dec. 20, and that Herzog told lawmakers they must do everything to avoid a repeat election³.

After the oaths, France 24 and CNA said Netanyahu called for a unity cabinet he would lead and warned about Iran^2,3. BBC said he had reiterated a unity call on Monday and warned against a government reliant on parties he called Islamists¹. France 24 said Eisenkot called the remarks a shameful use of the occasion and said Netanyahu should leave office².

France 24 said Eisenkot’s Yashar party submitted bills for a state inquiry into the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and to repeal judicial-overhaul laws, and that the bloc claimed enough votes to replace Speaker Amir Ohana with Matan Kahana next Tuesday². CNA also said allies submitted Oct. 7 inquiry and judicial-overhaul repeal bills³.

BBC said Netanyahu has ruled out governing with Arab parties and that three parties in Eisenkot’s bloc have opposed including them¹. France 24 said Avigdor Lieberman has refused a government that relies on Arab lists and that Itamar Ben Gvir heckled Joint List leader Yousef Jabareen during the oath².

France 24 said Eisenkot cancelled a meeting with Likud scheduled for Wednesday after the speech². CNA said if Eisenkot fails, Herzog would likely ask Netanyahu next, and another election could follow if both fail³.