Israel president opens talks as rivals struggle to form government

Israel's president begins deliberations on Wednesday on whom to task to form a government, with neither veteran Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor rival Gadi Eisenkot holding enough seats after a divisive election. President Isaac Herzog holds a largely ceremonial role, but carries the decisive vote on who will have the first chance to try to be prime minister -- a process that could last weeks or even months and may end in failure and new elections.