Israel’s President Tasks Gadi Eisenkot with Forming Government in Setback for Netanyahu

• The decision gives Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party and a former chief of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the first opportunity to assemble a governing coalition and potentially replace incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
• The announcement came on Saturday, November 7, after President Herzog held consultations with political parties and representatives across the political spectrum.
• According to the President’s Office, parliamentary factions representing 67 members of the Knesset recommended Eisenkot for the premiership, while factions representing 46 lawmakers backed Netanyahu. A seven-member faction did not recommend either candidate.

Eisenkot to Receive 28 Days to Form Government

• President Herzog has invited Eisenkot to the President’s Residence on Sunday, November 8, at 5 pm local time, to formally receive the mandate to form the next government.
• Under Israeli law, he will have 28 days to negotiate with political parties and establish a coalition. The president can grant an additional extension of up to 14 days if required.
• If Eisenkot fails to secure sufficient parliamentary support, the mandate could be given to another candidate, potentially Netanyahu.

Election Results Leave Israel Without a Clear Majority

• The October 27 parliamentary elections produced a divided political landscape in Israel’s 120 member Knesset.
• Netanyahu’s Likud party secured 27 seats, while Eisenkot’s Yashar party won 21 seats.
• The broader political blocs remained short of the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority.

According to the reported final seat distribution:

The two Arab-led political groups supported Eisenkot during the presidential consultations, helping him secure recommendations from 67 lawmakers.

Arab Parties Support Becomes Important

• The Joint List and Ra’am, two Arab-led political groups that together hold 19 seats, have backed Eisenkot’s bid to form the next government.
• Their support has strengthened his position in the presidential consultations. However, their recommendations do not automatically mean they will join his governing coalition.
• Eisenkot faces difficult negotiations because several parties within his opposition bloc have reservations about forming a government with Arab-led parties.
• Other possible coalition arrangements include cooperation with ultra Orthodox parties or an attempt to establish a broader national unity government.

Netanyahu Calls for National Unity Government

• Following Herzog’s announcement, Netanyahu called for the formation of a national unity government, proposing cooperation between his Likud party and opposition parties.
• However, Eisenkot has maintained his opposition to serving in a government led by Netanyahu, making negotiations over a possible unity arrangement challenging.
• The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether Eisenkot can secure the parliamentary support required to become Israel’s next prime minister.

What Happens Next?

• Eisenkot must now negotiate with political parties to secure at least 61 votes in the 120 member Knesset.
• If he succeeds, he could become Israel’s next prime minister. If he fails, President Herzog may give another candidate an opportunity to form a government. A failure by subsequent candidates could eventually lead to another election.
• The political developments come amid continuing security challenges, the conflict involving Iran and disagreements over the government’s handling of the Gaza war.
• The outcome of the coalition negotiations could significantly influence Israel’s domestic politics, security policies and regional diplomatic relations.