Eisenkot Gets First Shot at Israel’s Government

After Israel’s October 2026 election produced no parliamentary majority, President Isaac Herzog must choose which candidate will first try to form a government. Former army chief Gadi Eisenkot has endorsements from 67 of the 120 Knesset members, compared with 46 for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, Eisenkot’s apparent advantage depends on support from Arab-led parties whose lawmakers he has said he will not bring into his government. Netanyahu’s bloc has 53 seats; his endorsements fell short even of that total after United Torah Judaism withheld support over the failure to exempt ultra-Orthodox Israelis from military service. No straightforward coalition is available. Eisenkot could reach 61 seats by winning over the ultra-Orthodox parties United Torah Judaism and Shas, although Shas has endorsed Netanyahu. Netanyahu would need to attract an opposition party. A unity government with Netanyahu and Eisenkot rotating as prime minister is another possibility, but several of Netanyahu’s rivals reject serving under him. Arab-led parties have offered support for Eisenkot, including the possibility of helping a minority government pass a confidence vote, but their participation is politically contested. Their demands include measures to protect Palestinian citizens, such as ending house demolitions and incitement, addressing crime, and establishing a political horizon for Palestinians. The article describes how the dispute over relying on Palestinian lawmakers reflects broader questions about equality and democracy in Israel. Joint List member Ahmad Tibi says rejecting partnership would demonstrate that Israel is an “ethnocracy,” while Netanyahu’s Likud calls cooperation with Arab-led parties dangerous. If Herzog’s first nominee cannot form a coalition within 28 days, the period may be extended by 14 days; a second nominee can then receive 28 days, followed by a possible final 14-day attempt by a third candidate. Failure would dissolve the Knesset and trigger an election within 90 days, with Netanyahu remaining caretaker prime minister. An analyst cited by Al Jazeera says another election is the likeliest outcome and may suit Netanyahu, who could hope to weaken rivals and reduce turnout among Palestinian citizens.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has chosen opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to make the first attempt at forming a government after an election left no bloc with a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Eisenkot has 28 days to assemble a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension. Herzog’s office said Eisenkot received 67 recommendations from incoming lawmakers for the premiership, compared with 46 for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The president is not required to appoint the leader of the largest party and may choose the person he believes has the best chance of forming a coalition. Netanyahu’s Likud and its far-right and ultra-Orthodox allies won 53 seats. Eisenkot’s centrist Yashar party and three other Jewish opposition parties won 48. Two Arab-led alliances secured 19 seats, an unprecedented combined result after turnout among Arab voters increased, potentially giving them a decisive role. However, all but one of the Jewish parties had pledged before the election not to form a government with them. Eisenkot and nearly all members of his bloc have also previously ruled out joining a government supported by Arab parties, though a possible agreement has been discussed. A deal with ultra-Orthodox parties is another possibility but would also be difficult. The article outlines three broad routes to a government: a national unity administration involving Eisenkot and Netanyahu, a right-wing coalition formed with defectors from Eisenkot’s bloc, or an Eisenkot-led government backed by Arab parties. A unity arrangement has precedent: Netanyahu and centrist rival Benny Gantz agreed to a rotating power-sharing government in 2020 after repeated electoral deadlocks. Herzog urged parties to set aside some pledges if necessary to avoid another election and create a stable administration. Israel experienced five elections between 2019 and 2022 amid persistent difficulties among Netanyahu and his rivals in cooperating. Eisenkot said he would work to form a national emergency government.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog designated opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot to make the first attempt at forming a governing coalition after the October 27 election. Eisenkot, a former military chief whose Yashar party led the main bloc seeking to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, welcomed the assignment and called for a national emergency government. Neither side won a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, but representatives from most major parties recommended Eisenkot during consultations with Herzog. The designation was a setback for Netanyahu, who had alleged—without evidence—that Arab countries interfered in the election. The acting director-general of the Central Elections Committee said there was no basis for claims of systematic compromise of the election’s integrity. Netanyahu had called for a national unity government and warned against forming a government with what he described as terrorist supporters, an apparent reference to Arab-led parties that have backed Eisenkot. Eisenkot has said he would consider partnering with those parties if they meet conditions, including recognizing Hamas as a terrorist group that must be destroyed. His party, in turn, criticized Netanyahu’s alliance with religious-nationalist parties. The four parties in the main anti-Netanyahu bloc won 48 seats, Netanyahu’s bloc won 53, and Arab-majority parties won a record 19 seats. As no bloc has a clear majority, coalition formation may depend on Arab-party support, although some Jewish-led opposition parties had pledged not to rely on it. Once the new Knesset is sworn in, the opposition and Arab parties could together have enough votes to pass legislation. Netanyahu will remain caretaker prime minister while negotiations continue. If no coalition can be formed, Israel would have to hold another election.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has selected Gadi Eisenkot to receive the first opportunity to form a government after Israel’s October election produced no clear parliamentary majority. Herzog’s office said Eisenkot had been informed of the president’s intention and would be invited to a formal ceremony at the presidential residence on Sunday. Eisenkot, a former military chief who leads the centrist Yashar party and an alliance opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, secured 48 of the Knesset’s 120 seats. Netanyahu’s camp won 53. Neither bloc reached the 61 seats needed for a majority, although Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist coalition emerged as the largest bloc. Netanyahu has ruled out relying on Arab parties, while both Arab-majority lists said they would recommend Eisenkot for prime minister. The president’s decision begins what is expected to be difficult coalition negotiations. Eisenkot’s route to a majority may require agreements among parties with challenging political differences, including Arab and ultra-Orthodox parties. He has 28 days to gather the necessary support, with Herzog able to grant an additional 14 days. If Eisenkot cannot form a government, the mandate must be offered to another candidate. If no one succeeds, Israel will hold another election. Should Eisenkot form a government, he would replace Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog selected opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to receive the first opportunity to form a government after an inconclusive October 27 election. Although factions representing 67 of the Knesset’s 120 members recommended Eisenkot, that support does not amount to a viable 67-seat coalition. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud won 27 seats, and his broader bloc secured 53. The four parties aligned to replace him hold 48 seats. Netanyahu received recommendations from 46 lawmakers, while seven members of United Torah Judaism endorsed neither candidate. Eisenkot, head of the Yashar party, is due to receive the formal mandate on November 8. He will have 28 days to assemble a government, with a possible two-week extension. His proposal is a “National Emergency Government,” initially built around the four parties committed to replacing Netanyahu but potentially open to other lawmakers who accept its principles. These include defining Israel as Jewish and democratic, affirming the Declaration of Independence, requiring universal military, national or civilian service, and recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization while seeking to dismantle its military and governing capabilities. The effort faces substantial obstacles. Two Arab-led parties, the Joint List and Ra’am, whose combined 19 seats helped produce Eisenkot’s recommendations, create a dilemma for prospective partners who oppose relying on Arab parties to form a government. Eisenkot warned that political instability threatens Israeli democracy and could worsen the country’s security and diplomatic challenges. While he said negotiations had made progress, disagreements persist even among parties seeking Netanyahu’s departure. One possible opening emerged when Avigdor Lieberman indicated he might compromise on military conscription for ultra-Orthodox Jews, a longstanding barrier to cooperation with religious parties. The article presents Eisenkot’s selection as a consequential but uncertain first step toward a new government.

France 24 reports that coalition negotiations are gaining momentum after inconclusive elections in Israel. Opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot says he is confident he can secure the mandate to form a government, as President Isaac Herzog prepares to nominate the first candidate tasked with forming one. Eisenkot says his efforts to replace long-serving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are making progress. The report is from Jerusalem by Noga Tarnopolsky. The article does not provide detailed election results, the names of potential coalition partners, or specific evidence for Eisenkot’s claim of progress. It also does not say whether Herzog has made a decision or whether Eisenkot has obtained enough support to form a government. Its central focus is therefore the developing political negotiations and Eisenkot’s expressed confidence, rather than a confirmed change in government. The accompanying page identifies Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Middle East elections, and Gadi Eisenkot as keywords. The source is presented as a short video report, with a displayed duration of 1 minute and 16 seconds.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog selected former military chief Gadi Eisenkot to try to form a government after the October 27 parliamentary election produced no clear majority. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist coalition lost its majority but remained the largest bloc, while Eisenkot’s four-party coalition also fell short. Arab parties, which won a record 19 seats, nominated Eisenkot during consultations with Herzog, although his bloc has previously ruled out joining forces with them. Eisenkot has 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to negotiate a government. The article describes three possible routes: relying on Arab parties’ support for a minority government, joining with ultra-Orthodox parties, or forming a unity government with Netanyahu. Analysts consider all three unlikely. If the process fails, other candidates may be given a chance; failure by all candidates could lead to another election within roughly 100 days. The article also profiles Eisenkot, 66, a son of Moroccan immigrants who could become Israel’s first prime minister from the Mizrahi community. He entered politics in 2022, served briefly in Netanyahu’s wartime cabinet after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, and later criticized Netanyahu’s leadership and handling of the Gaza campaign. Eisenkot has pledged not to serve in a government with Netanyahu. His family has suffered losses in the war: a son and two nephews were killed fighting in Gaza. Eisenkot campaigned on his military credentials and the “Dahiyeh doctrine,” which advocates massive force against infrastructure in areas controlled by Hezbollah. Israel has applied the approach in Gaza, where the Gaza health ministry says more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed; critics say the destruction may amount to war crimes, a charge Israel disputes. Eisenkot has also condemned settler violence in the occupied West Bank and criticized far-right coalition partners Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has given opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot the opportunity to form Israel’s next government, following an election in which neither Eisenkot nor caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured a clear majority. Parties representing most members of parliament recommended Eisenkot for the task, marking a serious challenge to Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister. Eisenkot, a center-right politician and former military chief, briefly served in Netanyahu’s cabinet after the Hamas attacks of October 7 before the two fell out. His son was killed while serving as an Israeli soldier in Gaza. Eisenkot now leads a new party that campaigned to replace Netanyahu. He will have about six weeks to build a governing coalition. If he cannot, Herzog may give another politician, potentially Netanyahu, a chance; failure by that person could lead to another election. Coalition negotiations are expected to be difficult. Potential partners range from ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties to Arab-led parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel, whose turnout was unusually high and whose votes could prove decisive. Both Netanyahu and Eisenkot have ruled out working with those parties, but Eisenkot faces public pressure to reconsider. Netanyahu warned against partnering with groups he described as Hamas supporters and opponents of Judaism. Eisenkot called the warning hysterical, while NPR correspondent Lauren Frayer characterized the political atmosphere as very tense and noted Netanyahu’s use of racist and Islamophobic language toward Arab citizens. The next government will also confront strained relations with the United States. Israelis are concerned that criticism of Israel featured in campaigns by some successful U.S. candidates, and President Trump announced on Election Day that he would cut U.S. aid to Israel. Analyst Mairav Zonszein said the longstanding U.S.-Israel relationship, a cornerstone of Israeli security and foreign policy, is unraveling rapidly amid the Gaza war and tensions involving Iran. Whoever becomes prime minister will face pressure to repair ties, particularly with Democrats, as U.S. public opinion of Israel has fallen.

Israel's President Isaac Herzog has chosen opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, rather than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to attempt to form the country's next government. The decision is a setback for Netanyahu, whose Likud party won the largest number of seats in last month's election but could not secure a parliamentary majority. Likud won 27 seats, six more than Eisenkot's Yashar party, and neither has enough support on its own to control the 120-seat parliament. Herzog is scheduled to formally give Eisenkot the mandate at 5 p.m. local time on Sunday. Eisenkot, a former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff who served from 2015 to 2019, also joined Netanyahu's emergency war cabinet after Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. He left the cabinet the following year, criticizing Netanyahu for failing to advance an end to the Gaza war or secure the release of hostages. The article also notes that Eisenkot lost his son, Gal, a reservist, and two nephews during the war. Eisenkot founded and leads the centrist Yashar party, whose platform emphasizes anti-corruption measures and government reform. He has 28 days to assemble a coalition, with the possibility of a 14-day extension, giving him up to six weeks to negotiate with other parties and obtain the 61 seats required for a majority. If he cannot form a government, Herzog may give another lawmaker the opportunity. If that attempt also fails, Israel could hold another election. Netanyahu would remain caretaker prime minister during the process.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog selected Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s main rival, to try to form a government after an Oct. 27 election left no bloc with a parliamentary majority. Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist coalition lost its majority but remained the largest bloc, while Arab party leaders nominated Eisenkot despite his refusal to join forces with them. Their support could give him enough votes to command a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Eisenkot has 28 days to assemble a government, with a possible 14-day extension. His options include relying on Arab parties for support on key votes to establish a minority government, forming a coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties, or agreeing to a unity government with Netanyahu. Analysts consider all three possibilities unlikely. If he fails, other candidates may be given a chance; if no one succeeds within roughly 100 days, Israel will hold another election. Likud won 27 seats, while Eisenkot’s Yashar party won 21. His four-party coalition secured 48 seats, compared with 53 for Netanyahu’s wider coalition. Two parties representing Israel’s Arab minority won a combined 19 seats. Eisenkot, 66, entered politics in 2022 and would be Israel’s first prime minister from the Mizrahi community. He briefly served in Netanyahu’s wartime cabinet after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, then returned to the opposition and criticized Netanyahu’s leadership and conduct of the Gaza campaign. He has said he will not serve in a government with Netanyahu. The article also notes the personal loss Eisenkot’s family has suffered: a son and two nephews were killed fighting in Gaza. During the campaign, Eisenkot emphasized his security credentials and his “Dahiyeh doctrine,” associated with responding to attacks with disproportionate force. He has also criticized rising settler violence against Palestinians and opposed far-right coalition partners Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Eisenkot called for a “national emergency government,” but the article describes his effort to form one as a long shot.

The provided article excerpt reports that Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Saturday he would ask former military chief Gadi Eisenkot to form Israel’s next government. The decision could put longtime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the brink of losing power, making the appointment a significant political development. The excerpt is datelined Jerusalem and is attributed to Washington Post reporters Gerry Shih and Lior Soroka. The supplied content ends after this opening report and does not provide further details about the selection process, Eisenkot’s political platform, the composition of a potential government, or reactions from the people involved. This summary therefore covers only what is stated in the excerpt and does not infer how events unfolded beyond it.