Setback for Netanyahu as rival Eisenkot gets Arab parties' backing to be Israel's next PM

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's position weakened on Thursday after an ultra-Orthodox Jewish party withheld its support for any candidate, while two Arab-led parties backed his rival, Gadi Eisenkot, as the next PM. Israel's October 27 election ended in a deadlock, with neither leader securing a majority in Parliament. Netanyahu's bloc has 53 seats, against 48 for Eisenkot's opposition bloc.