Israel's President Hands Gadi Eisenkot the Mandate as Netanyahu Bloc Fails to Win a Majority
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President Isaac Herzog has given centrist leader Gadi Eisenkot 28 days to piece together a coalition after an inconclusive election left Israel once again trapped in a fragile political stalemate.
President Isaac Herzog announced on Saturday that Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the centrist Yashar party and former military chief, will receive the mandate to form a new Israeli government after last month’s parliamentary election produced no clear majority. The president’s office said Eisenkot was invited to the presidential residence for a ceremony to formally confer the mandate the following day.
Under Israeli law, the appointed candidate has 28 days to negotiate a coalition, with the president able to extend the period by up to 14 days if needed. If Eisenkot fails to secure a governing majority, a second candidate may be given a 28-day window, followed by a possible third candidate with a 14-day limit. If this cycle of deadlock continues, the country would be pushed into yet another election.
Eisenkot pledged to "do everything" to build a coalition. In the election, his Yashar bloc secured 48 seats, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud-led bloc won 53 seats. Likud remains the largest single party with 27 seats, and Arab parties collectively achieved a record 19 seats. Netanyahu had earlier called for a national unity government.