Israel's parliament sworn in as Eisenkot tries to form govt

JERUSALEM — Israel's parliament was sworn in on Tuesday without a new government, after a deadlocked general election stripped Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of his parliamentary majority but left his main rivals with no clear path to power.

Lawmakers elected in the Oct 27 vote took their oaths of office as Gadi Eisenkot, a former general, sought to forge a coalition after Israel's president tasked him on Sunday with forming a government.

Eisenkot and his allies also lack a majority, and he has yet to strike deals with parties that could bring him to power. If both Eisenkot and Netanyahu fail to form coalitions, another election could follow.

Presiding over the swearing-in ceremony, President Isaac Herzog told lawmakers, "You must do everything to avoid a repeat election."

"Reach out a hand for compromise, even between rivals … Look upon one another with generosity. There is much work to be done here, and it requires the ability and experience found in every part of this House."

Netanyahu remains caretaker prime minister until a new candidate manages to form a coalition. His right-wing Likud party's alliance with far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties outperformed election expectations but still lost its majority, now holding 53 of the Knesset's 120 seats.

Eisenkot's center-right Yashar party and patchwork partner factions hold just 48 seats. But they have potential allies in Israel's Arab-led parties, which hold 19 seats and are aligned with Eisenkot in their vehement opposition to Netanyahu.

This means that the newly sworn-in parliament could still deliver on some of Eisenkot's campaign promises.

It also could allow Eisenkot to replace the current Knesset speaker, a Likud member.

Herzog told Knesset members that parliament was "duty-bound to leave no stone unturned" in investigating and understanding the "catastrophe" of the Oct 7 attacks that triggered the latest round of Gaza conflict.

Eisenkot initially has until Dec 6 to form a government, but he can seek a two-week extension to Dec 20. He has acknowledged his path to power is "extraordinarily complex".

His options include trying to form a minority government with Arab party support, bringing ultra-Orthodox parties into his camp despite years of mutual hostility, or forging a unity government with Netanyahu. All three paths face formidable obstacles.

Ultra-Orthodox parties have so far said they would not join an Eisenkot-led government.

Speaking after parliament was sworn in, Netanyahu called for a unity government, warning that Iran was seeking to revive its nuclear program and that Israel could come under growing international pressure to accept a nuclear-armed Iran.

If Eisenkot fails to form a government, Herzog would likely ask Netanyahu to try to build a coalition. If he also fails, another candidate would get a chance before Israel would be forced into another election.

The election came amid increasingly complicated Middle East tensions as the US-Iran conflict still sees no quick end.

Iran's army said on Wednesday that an oil tanker had struck a mine and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz, where the country has been targeting ships that transit without its authorization.

Since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict in late February, Tehran has heavily restricted traffic through the strategic waterway, insisting vessels use routes authorized by the Islamic republic.

In response, the United States has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and helped tankers travel the strait, which normally carries about one-fifth of global oil.

The US military recently claimed all mines had been cleared from the strait.

AGENCIES VIA XINHUA