Israeli president picks Gadi Eisenkot to form government: Statement

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has chosen Gadi Eisenkot to have the first opportunity to form a new Israeli government, according to a statement released by his office on Saturday evening.

The statement said Eisenkot was informed of Herzog's "intention to task him with forming a government" and would be invited to the president's residence, where a formal ceremony will take place on Sunday. 

The decision comes after a neck-and-neck race with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an election late in October.

Eisenkot's wide-ranging group, fashioned in opposition to Netanyahu, won 48 of the Israeli parliament's 120 seats in October's elections. Netanyahu's camp secured 53, leaving neither with a majority.

Former Israeli military chief Eisenkot is the leader of the centrist Yashar party and heads an anti-Netanyahu alliance.

Neither his nor Netanyahu's blocs secured a majority, with both falling short of the required 61 seats.

While Netanyahu ruled out working with Arab parties to gain a majority, both Arab majority lists had announced during the week that they would recommend Eisenkot to be next prime minister.

What happens next?

The move is the first step toward what will almost certainly be complicated coalition talks.

Should Eisenkot succeed in forming a government, he would take over as prime minister from Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving premier