Herzog Gives Gadi Eisenkot the Mandate After Election Leaves Netanyahu’s Bloc Short of a Majority
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President Isaac Herzog has entrusted centrist leader Gadi Eisenkot with 28 days to form a government after an election that again produced no decisive result and kept Israel’s political future in the balance.
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 following last month’s parliamentary election, which produced no clear majority. The president’s office said Eisenkot was invited to the presidential residence for a ceremony to 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. Continued failure would trigger a new 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.