Benjamin Netanyahu Remains Caretaker PM as Israel's New Parliament Convenes

<b>Benjamin Netanyahu</b> stays as Israel's caretaker prime minister as the new parliament takes office on Tuesday. President Isaac Herzog tasks former military chief Gadi Eisenkot with forming a new government. Netanyahu's bloc drops to 53 seats from 68 seats in the 120-member parliament. The opposition bloc holds 48 seats alongside 19 lawmakers from Arab-majority parties who strongly oppose Netanyahu and his hard-right administration. Experts note that the absence of a new government does not restrict the parliament's prerogatives. The less friendly composition of the legislature could pose significant legislative challenges for Netanyahu moving forward.