UPDATE: Eisenkot Backed by 67 MKs, Netanyahu by 46; Herzog to Decide Sunday Who Gets Mandate to Form Government
A majority recommended Eisenkot after consultations, but the backing does not yet amount to a coalition agreement or a mandate from the president.
Gadi Eisenkot received recommendations from factions representing 67 of Israel's 120 Knesset members, compared with 46 for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after consultations with President Isaac Herzog on Thursday.
Herzog said he would hold further talks with party leaders before announcing on Sunday whom he will task with trying to form the next government. A recommendation is not a coalition agreement, and the mandate had not yet been assigned when he made the announcement.
Eisenkot's path to a governing majority remains uncertain. The parties backing him include a 48-member Jewish-led bloc and 19 lawmakers from Arab-led parties. Three of the Jewish-led parties are refusing to partner with the Arab parties, according to The Times of Israel.
United Torah Judaism, which holds seven seats, did not recommend Netanyahu. Its decision left the incumbent with 46 recommendations even though his outgoing coalition won 53 seats in the election.
Eisenkot's Yashar party urged Herzog to give him the mandate as soon as possible. The president's planned Sunday decision will determine who gets the first attempt to assemble a government, not who is guaranteed to become prime minister.