Eisenkot gets first chance to form Israeli government after Herzog's designation

Herzog hands Eisenkot the first attempt

Israeli President Isaac Herzog designated Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the centrist Yashar party, on Saturday, 7 November, as the first politician to try to form a government. The mandate was formally handed over on Sunday, 8 November, at the presidential residence. Netanyahu's Likud won more votes than Yashar in the 27 October general election, yet Herzog chose the candidate he judged most likely to assemble a coalition. Before deciding, Herzog spoke with parties of every size during the week before.

Recommendations and the arithmetic

The presidential office said Eisenkot received 67 recommendations from members of parliament, against 46 for Netanyahu. A recommendation tally is not a coalition, however. Eisenkot's centrist bloc holds 48 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, so reaching the 61 needed for a majority requires partners from outside that bloc, as La Libre notes. Yisrael Beiteinu, led by Avigdor Lieberman with 7 seats, has been counted with Eisenkot's bloc since the election, although Lieberman often charts his own course. Beyachad, led by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, and the Democrats of Yair Golan are the other likely partners.

Gadi Eisenkot67

Benjamin Netanyahu46

Gadi Eisenkot

67

Benjamin Netanyahu

46

Data from the article text

Partners with conditions

The Arab parties hold 19 seats, with the Joint List at 11 and Ra'am at 8. The Joint List refuses to sit in a government with Zionist parties, while Ra'am could join but has not said how far it would go. Both could also back a government from outside. Trouw reports that the Democrats are the only party saying they want to work with both Arab parties, and that other parties threaten to stay out if that happens. EL PAIS notes that many on the right regard the Arab parties as toxic, so Eisenkot must accept their support without appearing to depend on it. According to BBC, the Arab parties backed Eisenkot mainly to keep Netanyahu out of power rather than to endorse his policies. La Libre reports that Eisenkot is weighing a two-stage approach, first governing with a minority bloc and then widening it.

Eisenkot said in a speech on Sunday that he would have to act creatively and unconventionally to assemble a coalition.

The clock and what follows

Eisenkot has 28 days to try, a period the president can extend once by 14 days. If he fails, the mandate could pass to Netanyahu, who remains prime minister and would stay in office if Israel returned to political deadlock, according to Deutsche Welle and EL PAIS. The 26th Knesset holds its inaugural session on 10 November, and both blocs were preparing for a first contest over the speaker's post, which controls the parliamentary agenda. The formation talks therefore begin alongside the parliamentary fight over that post.

Netanyahu and the backdrop

BBC reports that Netanyahu has faced corruption allegations in recent years, which he denies, and that his handling of the 7 October 2023 attacks has drawn criticism. EL PAIS notes that an international arrest warrant has been issued against him for crimes against humanity. According to La Libre, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has asked Netanyahu's camp to produce evidence for its claims of electoral fraud involving Arab voters. Eisenkot, 66 years old, is a former army chief of staff who joined politics in 2022 through National Unity, left that party over ideological differences, and founded Yashar last year. EL PAIS adds that he served as an observer in Netanyahu's war cabinet.