Israeli President Isaac Herzog formally gave opposition politician Gadi Eisenkot the first chance to form the next government on Sunday evening.
Complex coalition negotiations still lie ahead, but it marked a significant step in the former military chief’s effort to oust Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, after elections held in a deeply divided country. Israel remains scarred by the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, and the multifront wars they triggered.
“I hope...