Israel's Arab-led alliance of parties, known as the Joint List, has announced its support for opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, paving the way for the formation of a new government following last week's parliamentary elections.
In an official statement, the alliance announced that it will recommend to President Isaac Herzog that the mandate to form a government be entrusted to Eisenkot.
Arab parties achieved a historic result, securing a total of 19 seats in the Israeli parliament, which has 120 members. The Ra'am party has also confirmed its support for peer Eisenkot, bringing the number of members proposing his candidacy to 56.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc has 53 seats, but its support within it is in doubt. The ultra-Orthodox Degel HaTorah faction has said it will not support any candidate, following clashes with Netanyahu over the exemption of the ultra-Orthodox community from military service.
President Herzog has begun consultations with representatives of parliamentary parties, and talks will continue.
The election results constitute a significant blow to Netanyahu, who risks losing control over the formation of the next government.
