Former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot tasked with forming new government

Former military chief <b>Gadi Eisenkot</b> has officially received a 28-day mandate from President <b>Isaac Herzog</b> to form a new government in Israel. The 66-year-old political novice began his challenging task on Sunday, warning that veteran Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed the country into a historic diplomatic crisis. Mr Eisenkot reached out to Netanyahu's allies and appealed to the Likud Party to join a national emergency government under his leadership. Although his bloc lacks a clear majority, he aims to bridge deep political polarization and address growing international isolation, warning that Israel is approaching a point of no return. Political experts note that forming a minority government will require extensive negotiations and unconventional political steps in the 120-member parliament.