Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s invitation to Gadi Eisenkot, the centrist former military chief and leader of the Yashar (Straight) party, to form a government following the country’s historic October 27 general elections ought not to be overstated. To be sure, his bloc commands 48 seats in the new Knesset, against 46 for the religious ultra-nationalist coalition headed by the political dinosaur and Israel’s longest-serving Prime Minister, the 77-year-old Benjamin Netanyahu. Conversely, the beleaguered leader’s Likud has emerged as the single largest party with 27 seats—fewer than in the outgoing parliament—compared to 21 for Eisenkot’s Yashar.

Challenges In Forming A Coalition

Eisenkot’s emergence as the first choice in President Herzog’s explorations at installing a government would prove advantageous,........

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