Bennett's Beyachad and the Democrats to back Eisenkot for PM before the president

Two Knesset factions have said they will recommend Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party, to the president as their choice to form the next government.

Naftali Bennett, who heads Beyachad, announced on 1 November that his faction will make the recommendation at the President's Residence, Ynet reported. The announcement was formal. Ynet noted that Bennett had declined to line up behind Eisenkot during the election campaign.

A day later, on 2 November, the Democrats faction said it would also recommend Eisenkot to the president, Arutz Sheva reported.

Each faction presents its recommendation to the president in consultations after an election. The president then decides who receives the mandate to try to form a coalition.

Bennett's decision is the more notable of the two. His support was not a given, since he kept his distance from Eisenkot while voters were still deciding. Whether the shift reflects a coalition understanding or a tactical choice has not been stated in the reports available.

The Democrats' announcement came in a brief statement. It named Eisenkot as head of the Yashar party and as their candidate for prime minister, with no further detail on conditions or demands.

The recommendations are only one stage in the process. A recommendation does not by itself produce a government. The candidate who receives the mandate must still negotiate a coalition that can win a Knesset vote of confidence.

Other factions have not yet been reported as announcing their own recommendations. Both reports appeared in Hebrew-language outlets. Neither carried a response from Eisenkot's party.