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

■ Steady

Joint List says it will back Eisenkot as Herzog consults parties on coalition

On Thursday the Arab-led Joint List, which won a record 19 of 120 Knesset seats, said it will support Eisenkot in forming a government. Party leaders met President Herzog to recommend who should get the first chance to build a coalition after the inconclusive election. On Wednesday the election commission confirmed the results and rejected fraud claims, while Netanyahu's allies refused to back the outcome.

• Netanyahu alleged "serious suspicions" that foreign countries spent large sums to influence the election; the largest Arab-Israeli bloc called this political persecution.
• Neither Eisenkot's bloc nor Netanyahu's alliance won a majority, leaving Arab and ultra-Orthodox parties as kingmakers.
• Netanyahu's rivals say the Democratic win in the US Congress shows Israel cannot afford to keep him in office.