Israel's new parliament to be sworn in as leaders compete to form government

On Sunday, President Isaac Herzog tasked Eisenkot with trying to form a government.

Speaking at the president's residence, the centrist Yashar party leader called for the formation of a "national emergency government" - an implicit appeal to parties to put ideological differences aside to remove Netanyahu from office.

This, he said, would "require creative and unconventional political steps".

Eisenkot said any party or MK prepared to accept four principles could join his proposed government. Those are recognition of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state; accepting the values of the Declaration of Independence; backing mandatory military, national or civilian service for all, including communities currently exempt; and recognising Hamas as a terrorist organisation and committing to dismantling its military and governing capabilities.