Israeli President Isaac Herzog has tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming a new government following a deadlocked parliamentary election that weakened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition.

Herzog informed Eisenkot of his decision after consultations with political parties, with an official ceremony scheduled for Sunday.

Eisenkot, a former military chief and leader of the Yashar party, secured the recommendations of 67 members of the newly elected Knesset, including lawmakers from Palestinian Israeli parties, whose combined strength could prove decisive in the formation of a new government.

The development represents a major political setback for Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, whose religious-nationalist coalition lost its parliamentary majority in the October 27 election, although it emerged as the largest political bloc.

Despite receiving support from Palestinian Israeli parties, Eisenkot has ruled out forming a coalition government with them, creating uncertainty over how he intends to secure the parliamentary majority required to govern.

The Arab parties, however, backed his nomination during consultations with Herzog, sharing the objective of ending Netanyahu's hold on power and preventing the continuation of policies pursued by his far-right allies.

Eisenkot now faces the difficult task of assembling a coalition capable of securing a vote of confidence in the Knesset while maintaining the political commitments he made during the election campaign.

He must also contend with opposition from Netanyahu's right-wing bloc, which is expected to challenge any attempt to establish an alternative government.

Herzog reportedly conducted the consultations quietly, with the possibility of a national unity government or an arrangement that would allow Netanyahu to remain prime minister considered increasingly unfeasible.

The decision to nominate Eisenkot followed the parliamentary convention of giving the mandate to the political leader who secured the highest number of recommendations from elected lawmakers.

Eisenkot's success will depend on whether he can translate the recommendations into a workable coalition and secure the confidence of the Knesset.