- Published
Israel's new parliament will be sworn in on Tuesday, as opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot seeks to oust caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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Eisenkot → publish → Netanyahu
The former army chief was tasked with forming a government by the president, after he received the backing of 67 members of the 120-seat Knesset, compared to 46 for Netanyahu.
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he → task → Netanyahu
But Eisenkot faces an uphill struggle.
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Eisenkot → face → struggle
His bloc of four parties won 48 seats in last month's election, while Netanyahu's bloc won 53, leaving both short of a majority.
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bloc → win → majority
He has 28 days to build a coalition, with a possible two-week extension.
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He → have → extension
Almost half of the MKs being sworn in did not serve in the previous parliament, while Arab-led parties have a record number of seats.
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parties → swear → seats
The outcome of the election, which was widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu, means there is a period of uncertainty over who will form the next government.
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who → see → government
Netanyahu will remain caretaker prime minister until then - a process which could take from days to months.
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which → remain → months
One of the most dramatic results was the performance of Israel's two Arab-led alliances - the United Arab List and the Joint List - which won an unprecedented 19 seats between them following a surge in turnout among Arab voters.
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which → lead → voters
The Arab parties could therefore hold the balance of power, although Netanyahu has ruled out governing with them and three of the parties in Eisenkot's bloc have opposed including them in a coalition.
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three → hold → coalition
On Sunday, President Isaac Herzog tasked Eisenkot with trying to form a government.
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Herzog → task → government
Speaking at the president's residence, the centrist Yashar party leader called for the formation of a "national emergency government" - an implicit appeal to parties to put ideological differences aside to remove Netanyahu from office.
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leader → speak → office
This, he said, would "require creative and unconventional political steps".
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he → say → steps
Eisenkot said any party or MK prepared to accept four principles could join his proposed government.
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party → say → government
Those are recognition of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state; accepting the values of the Declaration of Independence; backing mandatory military, national or civilian service for all, including communities currently exempt; and recognising Hamas as a terrorist organisation and committing to dismantling its military and governing capabilities.
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Those → accept → capabilities
The four requirements, however, could present significant obstacles to Eisenkot's potential partners.
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requirements → present → partners
The ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism (UTJ) and Shas parties, which won 13 seats in total, have fiercely objected to attempts to change the status quo - something that all parties in Eisenkot's bloc campaigned to do.
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parties → win → bloc
Both emphasise equal national and civic rights for Israel's Arab citizens, who form about 20% of the population; the vast majority of Israeli Arabs are not required to serve in the military; and neither has publicly recognised Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
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neither → emphasise → organisation
The Arab parties could, though, help Eisenkot form a minority government.
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Eisenkot → help → government
The United Arab List, which won eight seats, has said it is willing to be part of an Eisenkot-led coalition, while the Joint List, which won 11 seats, has offered parliamentary support from the outside.
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which → win → outside
If Eisenkot accepted such an arrangement, he would still have to persuade other parties in his bloc to agree.
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he → accept → bloc
Avigdor Lieberman, whose Yisrael Beiteinu party won seven seats, has so far refused to join a minority government dependent on Arab MKs.
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party → win → MKs
In return for their support, the ultra-Orthodox parties would be likely to demand major concessions on military conscription, which might be unacceptable to most of the parties in Eisenkot's bloc.
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which → demand → bloc
Netanyahu - Israel's longest-serving leader - reiterated in a video on Monday his call for the formation of a government of national unity, which he said he would lead as prime minister.
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he → serve → minister
He said any Zionist party - those which support Israel as a Jewish state - including opposition parties, would be eligible.
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which → say → parties
He warned against a government which relied on what he called "the Islamists", an apparent reference to Arab parties.
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he → warn → parties
"You cannot form a government with Hamas supporters," he said.
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he → form → supporters
The Aporia
