Netanyahu moves to thwart Eisenkot: Legitimacy and alliances in the race to form a government

The story in brief

The deadline to form a new government has begun in Israel amid political tensions, accusations and efforts to shift the balance of power in the Knesset. Gadi Eisenkot is seeking to build a coalition that would make him prime minister, while observers accuse outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to obstruct those efforts by questioning the legitimacy of Arab parties and courting Haredi parties.