Benjamin Netanyahu

Gadi Eisenkot was tasked by President Isaac Herzog to form Israel's next government after winning the backing of 67 lawmakers in consultations.

Exit polls in the Israel election put Netanyahu and Eisenkot near 51 seats each, short of a 61 seat majority, as counting continues in Jerusalem.

Modi Netanyahu spoke by phone on October 22 on West Asia peace; Netanyahu invited Modi to light a torch with pilot Smit Machchar on Independence Day.