Cabinet portfolio allocation poses challenge for Eisenkot after mandate to form Israeli government

Israeli affairs expert Hussein Al-Deek said that distributing cabinet portfolios is a key challenge facing Gadi Eisenkot after being tasked with forming a new Israeli government.

Speaking in an interview with Al Arabiya FM, Al-Deek explained that, according to constitutional and legal requirements, the mandate was given by Israeli President Isaac Herzog following the recommendation of 67 Knesset members, including 19 from Arab lists. This provides Eisenkot with a comfortable legal and constitutional majority to form the government.

He added that the recommendation by 67 Knesset members to form the government does not necessarily mean the new government will win a majority confidence vote. The recommendation to form a government is one matter, while granting confidence by parliamentary blocs and Knesset members is another, which will depend on coalition negotiations and the final government formation.

Al-Deek noted there are two possible paths regarding cabinet portfolio distribution: one envisions a government composed of Jewish parties to secure a comfortable majority, while the other involves the participation of the United Arab List led by Mansour Abbas.

View the post on X