Jerusalem:Israeli opposition leaders convened for the first time since the recent parliamentary elections to support Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar party, as their candidate for prime minister.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, the meeting included key political figures such as former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett of the Together party, Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman, Yair Golan of the Democrats, and opposition leader Yair Lapid. The gathering occurred amid ongoing political deadlock, with neither the opposition nor current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc securing a clear majority to form a government.

Bennett expressed urgency in forming a new government and assured Eisenkot of his party's full backing. He emphasized the need for the opposition to act swiftly to obtain the mandate necessary to establish governance.

The recent elections left Netanyahu's bloc with 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while the opposition obtained 48 seats, and Arab parties won 19 seats. To achieve a parliamentary majority, the opposition would need to secure additional support from Arab lawmakers or parties not aligned with Netanyahu.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is set to begin consultations with the newly elected Knesset parties to decide which lawmaker will be tasked with forming the next government.