Raam, which elects 8 members of parliament, decides on Gadi Eisenkot for prime minister

Israel’s Raam party, which won 8 seats in the 27 October parliamentary elections, has decided to back former military chief Gadi Eisenkot for prime minister as President Isaac Herzog consults parties on forming a government. Raam, which represents Palestinian citizens of Israel, holds a potentially decisive bloc after no camp secured a clear majority. The endorsement matters because it could shape whether a coalition can be built around Eisenkot or rival candidates. What to watch next is whether Herzog formally hands the mandate to Eisenkot and whether enough parties join a viable coalition.