Breaking: Israeli president picks Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu rival, to form government

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog has announced he will give Benjamin Netanyahu’s main rival, Gadi Eisenkot the first opportunity to form a new coalition government.

The decision comes days after the president met with representatives from each of the parties that had secured seats in the next Israeli parliament, the Knesset, asking them for their recommendations for who should be given the task of trying to form a new coalition.

Most parties endorsed Gadi Eisenkot, the leader of the centre-right Yashar party, to get the first chance.

Despite that, Mr Herzog said he would take the weekend to consider the issue, given he was concerned some parties were still vehemently opposed to working with each other.