President Herzog appoints Gadi Eisenkot to attempt formation of Israeli government
Israel's president has tasked former military chief Gadi Eisenkot with forming a coalition after a stalemated election left no clear majority.
President Isaac Herzog appointed former military chief Gadi Eisenkot to try to build a governing coalition following the October 27 election that produced a fragmented Knesset. Netanyahu's religious-nationalist bloc remained the largest parliamentary group but fell short of the 61 seats needed for a majority, while Eisenkot's Yashar party secured the second-largest share.
Eisenkot, who has declined to join forces with Arab parties, was nominated by Arab leaders and will meet the president at the President's Residence to receive his mandate. > "President Herzog has invited Gadi Eisenkot to the President’s Residence, where he will be tasked with forming the government tomorrow," said the president’s spokesperson.
Under Israeli law Eisenkot has 28 days to assemble a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension. Options discussed include a minority government supported by Arab parties from outside the cabinet, a coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties, or a unity arrangement with Netanyahu. Analysts consider each scenario unlikely, noting that if Eisenkot fails, another candidate may be given the opportunity, and a further election could be called after roughly 100 days of deadlock.
Likud won 27 of the 120 Knesset seats, while Eisenkot's alliance captured 48 seats. Two Arab parties together obtained 19 seats, an unprecedented result. Eisenkot, 66, would become the first prime minister from Israel’s Mizrahi community if he succeeds. He entered politics in 2022, briefly served in Netanyahu's wartime cabinet after the October 7 Hamas attack, and has publicly stated he would not serve in a government alongside Netanyahu.