Gabi Eisenkot was formally tasked by President Isaac Herzog with forming Israel’s next government on Sunday afternoon, during an official ceremony at the presidential residence.

Eisenkot’s Yashar party came second in terms of both votes and seats in the 27 October elections, behind Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud. However, parties supporting Netanyahu failed to assemble a bloc capable of securing a vote of confidence in the Knesset.

Eisenkot has 28 days to present the new government, which is backed by parties holding a total of 67 seats in parliament and is therefore expected to win the confidence vote, barring unforeseen developments.