Israeli President Isaac Herzog has given Gadi Eisenkot, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leading rival and a former military chief, the first opportunity to form a government after the October 27 election produced no clear majority. Representatives of most major parties recommended Eisenkot during consultations with Herzog, although neither Eisenkot nor Netanyahu secured enough support to govern alone. Netanyahu called for a national unity government and warned against quickly forming a government backed by parties he described as supporting terrorism, an apparent reference to Arab-led parties. Eisenkot has indicated conditional openness to Arab-party cooperation, including requiring support for recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization that must be destroyed. His Yashar party urged Likud members to reject alliances with radical parties and said any coalition must support its stated principles. Eisenkot has up to six weeks—28 days with a possible 14-day extension—to assemble a coalition before the mandate can pass to another candidate, most likely Netanyahu. Existing obstacles include opposition from right-wing Jewish parties to reliance on Arab support, possible cooperation with ultra-Orthodox parties and the prospect of a unity government with Netanyahu. The process could continue toward a deadline of about 100 days before another election. Eisenkot's proposed options include a national emergency government or a minority administration supported externally by Arab parties or other groups. His appointment is a setback for Netanyahu, who alleged election interference by Arab countries, while Central Elections Committee acting director-general Din Livne said there was no basis for claims that the election's integrity had been systematically compromised. Eisenkot, 66, would be Israel's first prime minister from the Mizrahi community; his political profile combines military experience, opposition to Netanyahu and his far-right partners, and the loss of a son and two nephews killed fighting in Gaza.