Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party, is set to receive the backing of 67 members of the next Knesset for the post of Israeli prime minister, significantly ahead of incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu, who has secured 46 endorsements, according to The Times of Israel. The Arab Joint List has announced that it will recommend Eisenkot to President Isaac Herzog as the next prime minister, giving his candidature a major boost. The decision was unanimously approved by the three factions within the Joint List. The alliance said its decision was taken “in response to the public demand to prevent Netanyahu and his government from returning to power.” Eisenkot's tally of 67 endorsements gives him the support of a majority in the 120-member Knesset, putting him well ahead of Netanyahu. The ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, meanwhile, has declined to endorse either candidate. However, the endorsements do not necessarily mean that the parties backing Eisenkot will join his coalition if he is tasked with forming the next government. The Arab Joint List said backing Eisenkot is important, despite the opposition bloc’s failure so far to show sufficient willingness to “confront Netanyahu’s path, as well as to fight incitement against Arab citizens and attempts to undermine the legitimacy of their political decision," according to The Times of Israel. “Although Eisenkot has received more recommendations than Netanyahu, we believe it is important to widen the gap between them,” the Joint List noted, arguing that the move could strengthen the chances of replacing the government and reduce the prospect of a unity government that would keep Netanyahu in power. A Joint List delegation is due to present the recommendation to Herzog this afternoon. President Herzog will decide who gets the mandate to form a government. Eisenkot's advantage does not guarantee a governing majority, leaving coalition negotiations uncertain. Ananya is a journalist with a strong grounding in breaking news and a deep-rooted passion for geopolitics. She has 6 years of experience in TV and Dig... View More