Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot tasked with forming coalition government

President Isaac Herzog selected former military chief Gadi Eisenkot on Saturday to attempt to form a new government following the October election in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition fell short of a majority. Eisenkot has 28 days to assemble a coalition, with the possibility of a 14-day extension if needed.

Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, posted on X, "Now is the time to form a national emergency government. I will do everything to ensure we are worthy." The opposition bloc he is courting includes his Yashar party, the centre-left Democrats led by Yair Golan, Naftali Bennett’s centre-right Together party and Avigdor Lieberman’s right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu. Together they hold 48 seats in the 120-member Knesset, well short of the 61 needed for a majority.

Arab-led parties Ra’am and the Joint List, which together hold 19 seats, have expressed support for Eisenkot’s effort, which would bring the anti-Netanyahu camp to a combined 67 seats. However, Eisenkot has ruled out including Arab parties in his cabinet, and Lieberman has opposed a minority administration that would depend on their backing. The Democrats have indicated a willingness to work with the Arab parties.

Netanyahu’s coalition has dropped from 64 seats in 2022 to 53, with Likud holding 27 seats and United Torah Judaism declining to endorse any candidate during Herzog’s consultations. The ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism together hold 13 seats; their inclusion could give Eisenkot’s bloc the required majority, but would likely require compromises on military conscription exemptions for ultra-Orthodox students.

If Eisenkot cannot secure a majority, he could lead a minority government that relies on external parliamentary support from Arab parties without granting them cabinet positions. Alternatively, a unity government involving Eisenkot’s bloc, Bennett’s Together, Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu and Netanyahu’s Likud would command 67 seats but would require abandoning the pledge to remove Netanyahu from power.

Should Eisenkot fail to form a government within the allotted time, Herzog may give Netanyahu another opportunity to build a coalition. If both leaders are unsuccessful, the Knesset could nominate another candidate, and if no government is formed after 100 days, new elections could be called.