Eisenkot Receives Israel's Mandate From Herzog and Has 28 Days to Find 61 Seats

The 67 includes those 19 Arab-party members, and that is the difficulty. Eisenkot has said he will not govern with them. Several hawkish partners in his own bloc oppose depending on Ra'am and the Joint List, while Netanyahu's camp warns against any government they back.

What are Eisenkot's options for a coalition?

The Times of Israel describes three routes. The first is a government resting on the ultra-Orthodox parties: the 48-seat bloc plus United Torah Judaism (7) and Shas (6) comes to exactly 61, a majority of one. Israeli television reported that Shas might not oppose such a government if UTJ's rabbis approved, which Shas called fake news, and that Avigdor Liberman, a bloc partner, would accept compromises on Haredi enlistment. His other partners are less flexible, and the Haredi parties want exemptions from military service.

The second is a minority government backed from outside by the Arab-led parties. Ahmad Tibi of the Joint List told Al Jazeera he expects exactly that, with his priority being the end of Netanyahu's government. The third is a power-sharing deal with Netanyahu, which Eisenkot has rejected. In a video statement on Saturday Netanyahu called instead for a national unity government that would include his far-right and Haredi allies, which the Times of Israel called a likely nonstarter.

What happens if the 28 days run out?

The clock is 28 days, which Herzog may extend by up to 14, the Times of Israel and Al Jazeera agree. If Eisenkot fails, Herzog can name another candidate with a similar window, and if that also fails a parliamentary majority can back a third candidate for a final 14 days. Al Jazeera says that if no government forms, an election must be called within 90 days. Netanyahu stays on as caretaker prime minister, with limited powers, throughout.

The new Knesset is sworn in on Tuesday evening. Expect the real bargaining to start there, over portfolios, the draft law and whether anyone will say aloud what the Arab parties have been offered. The first sign of a deal will be a Haredi leader saying yes in public.