Urgent: The Israeli President assigns Gadi Eisenkot to form the government

On Saturday, the Israeli President chose Gadi Eisenkot, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strongest competitor, to form a new government, according to Israeli media.

The appointment comes in the wake of elections that did not give either of them a clear path to power.

The Yashar Party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, called on members of the Likud Party, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, and its allies, to join a coalition led by him.

Yashar (Mustaqim) wrote in a post on the

This came shortly after outgoing Prime Minister Netanyahu called for the formation of a national unity government, warning at the same time that the alliance with the Arab parties would lead to the “disintegration” of Israel.

Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving leader, is struggling to retain his position.