Arab-led Joint List says it will back Eisenkot to form Israel's next government

The Arab-led Joint List has said it will back Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to form a new government, dealing a heavy blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to remain in power. The Joint List announced on Thursday that it would "recommend that Gadi Eisenkot be tasked with forming the government", bringing the total number of lawmakers backing him to 67 in the 120-seat Knesset. The decision follows Wednesday's endorsement by Ra'am, another Arab-led party, whose eight lawmakers also backed Eisenkot. The two parties together secured a record 19 seats in last week's general election, giving them a potentially decisive role in determining who forms Israel's next government. Read more: Arab-led Joint List says it will back Eisenkot to form Israel's next government Yousef Jabareen (centre), leader of Israel's Arab-led Joint List political alliance, celebrates as the first exit polls are announced during Israel's election last week (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP)