Herzog gives Gadi Eisenkot first chance to form Israel's government

Herzog hands Eisenkot the first mandate

Israeli President Isaac Herzog told Gadi Eisenkot on Saturday, 7 November, after the Sabbath ended, that he would be given the first opportunity to form the next government. The formal handover is scheduled for Sunday, 8 November at 17:00 local time at the presidential residence in Jerusalem. Eisenkot, a former chief of the General Staff who now leads the Yashar party, ran as the main challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the 27 October parliamentary election. Netanyahu remains in office until a new cabinet is installed. Eisenkot reacted on X shortly after the announcement.

“This is the time to establish a national emergency government. I will do anything possible to prove us worthy.”

Recommendations and seat counts

In consultations with the president, 67 of the 120 Knesset members recommended Eisenkot, while 46 backed Netanyahu. Seven members, from the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, recommended no candidate. Likud won 27 seats in the October vote and Yashar 21. Netanyahu's bloc now holds 53 seats, against 48 for the four-party opposition bloc led by Yashar. The two Arab-led parties, the United List and Raam, hold 19 seats together and recommended Eisenkot, but a governing majority still requires 61 seats. Each party will decide separately whether it backs the cabinet Eisenkot eventually presents to parliament.

Gadi Eisenkot67

Benjamin Netanyahu46

Gadi Eisenkot

67 deputies

Benjamin Netanyahu

46 deputies

Data from the article text

The majority puzzle and conscription

Eisenkot still needs partners to reach 61 seats. Avigdor Liberman, one of Eisenkot's allies, refuses to back a cabinet that depends on votes from the Arab parties, but he is willing to talk with the two ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, which together hold 13 seats. With their seats, Eisenkot would reach a majority of 61. The main obstacle is conscription, since both ultra-Orthodox parties want exemptions for young men in religious study, while Eisenkot campaigned on general national service that can be fulfilled through military or civilian service. Handelsblatt reports that a coalition with the Arab parties is considered unlikely because of significant security policy differences, although a minority government backed from outside by Arab lawmakers is conceivable.

Netanyahu bloc53

Eisenkot opposition bloc48

Arab-led parties19

Netanyahu bloc

53 seats

Eisenkot opposition bloc

48 seats

Arab-led parties

19 seats

Data from the article text

Netanyahu's counter-push

On Saturday, 7 November, Netanyahu called for a national unity government that would include his far-right allies. He also warned against a government that depends on Arab parties, claiming it would destroy Israel from within. In a video statement he warned against 'hastily swearing in a government with terrorist supporters', a phrase he uses for the Arab-led parties. He has also claimed that the Arab parties 'stole' the elections, an assertion no source substantiates. Yashar dismissed the proposal as a PR stunt, saying a unity government could only be considered if Likud ended its alliance with the far-right parties and accepted Eisenkot's four principles.

Deadlines and what comes next

Eisenkot has 28 days from receiving the mandate to build a coalition, and Herzog can extend that by up to 14 days, which sources put at up to six weeks in total. If he fails, Herzog may pass the mandate to another politician, including Netanyahu, and if that attempt also collapses, Israel could hold early parliamentary elections. Eisenkot briefly joined Netanyahu's war cabinet after the Hamas-led attack of 7 October 2023 before returning to the opposition, and he lost a son during the war in Gaza. He has criticized Netanyahu's handling of the Gaza operation and of violence by settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. One of his main campaign promises is an independent state commission to investigate security failures during the 7 October attack.