Israeli President Isaac Herzog has tasked Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the opposition alliance and the Yashar party, with attempting to form a new government, following elections that ended without a clear majority.
Eisenkot is considered the strongest rival to Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, is trying to stay in power after his nationalist-religious coalition lost its majority in the October 27 elections, although it remained the largest bloc in parliament.
The bloc opposing Netanyahu, led by Eisenkot, a former chief of the Israeli army, has refused to cooperate with the Arab parties, which could provide a parliamentary majority.