Netanyahu and Eisenkot Vie for Israeli Prime Ministership

Israeli party leaders will convene at President Isaac Herzog's residence to formally endorse their preferred candidate for prime minister following last Tuesday's inconclusive election.

Over two days of livestreamed meetings starting Wednesday, representatives from 11 parties will present their case to Herzog, who will assign the task of forming a coalition to the most viable candidate.

Most leaders are expected to support either Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or his rival, Gadi Eisenkot, both of whom failed to secure a clear majority in the parliamentary elections.

With no decisive winner, Netanyahu, Eisenkot, and other leaders are engaged in behind-the-scenes maneuvering to secure influence in the upcoming coalition-building process.

Political analysts note that Netanyahu's control over his bloc of conservative and religious parties may be challenged by potential defections, particularly from ultra-Orthodox or moderate right-wingers within his Likud faction.

The process could take weeks or months, as parties and lawmakers negotiate to form a government without a clear majority.