Joint List Endorses Gadi Eisenkot as Israel's Next Prime Minister

The Joint List, a coalition of Arab political factions in Israel and the Arab-led Ra'am party, has endorsed Yasser party chairman Gadi Eisenkot as the country's next prime minister. The Times of Israel reports that the Joint List announced its support on Thursday. They will formally recommend Eisenkot's name to President Isaac Herzog during government formation talks. Eight Ra'am party lawmakers had already pledged their support. AFP reports that the party announced in a statement on Thursday that they will communicate their decision to President Isaac Herzog this evening. They will recommend to the president that Eisenkot be entrusted with forming a government. Eisenkot is now expected to receive the support of 67 members of the 120-seat parliament. They are thus overtaken by incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Likud party-led Joint List has 58 MPs and 11 Arab-Ra'am party lawmakers. The party's tally for the general election last week is 120.