Netanyahu rival Gadi Eisenkot gets first chance to form Israel government

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has chosen former army chief Gadi Eisenkot to try to form the country's next government after the October 27 election left the main political alliances without a majority. Eisenkot, who leads the Yashar party and is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's principal challenger, will have up to six weeks to secure support in parliament.

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The president's office said on Saturday that the formal mandate would be handed to Eisenkot at the President's Residence in Jerusalem at 5 pm on Sunday. The decision followed consultations in which parties representing 67 members of the 120-seat Knesset recommended Eisenkot, against 46 for Netanyahu. Seven lawmakers made no recommendation.

However, the endorsements do not mean those parties have agreed to join one government. A prospective prime minister must put together an administration capable of winning the Knesset's confidence, and several parties backing Eisenkot disagree over possible coalition partners.

Israel election results leave Netanyahu and Eisenkot short of majority

Netanyahu's Likud emerged as the largest single party from the October 27 election with 27 seats. His wider right-wing and religious alliance secured 53 seats, while Yashar won 21 and the four Jewish-led parties aligned with Eisenkot gained 48 seats between them. Both camps therefore fell below the 61-seat majority mark.

The remaining 19 seats went to the Arab-led Ra'am party and Joint List, which supported Eisenkot's nomination. Their votes could allow the opposition to replace Netanyahu, although backing a candidate during presidential consultations is different from voting for his proposed government.

Gadi Eisenkot faces difficult coalition negotiations

One option under discussion is a minority administration made up of Eisenkot's four-party grouping, with the Arab-led parties supporting it in parliament without joining the cabinet. Eisenkot opposed including Arab-led parties in his government during the campaign, and his ally Avigdor Lieberman's Israel Our Home party has rejected reliance on their support for a minority coalition.

Eisenkot could instead approach the ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, which together hold 13 seats. Their participation alongside his 48-member bloc would produce a majority of 61. But Shas recommended Netanyahu for prime minister, while United Torah Judaism withheld its recommendation. Disagreements over military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men could also complicate talks.

A broader alliance involving Likud is another possible arrangement. Netanyahu called for a national unity government on Saturday, but his opponents have campaigned against his continued leadership. The sides also disagree on conscription and on an official inquiry into security failures surrounding the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023.

Herzog acknowledged those disagreements on November 5, saying it was difficult to determine who could actually form a government because of "mutual vetoes between the blocs and within the blocs themselves".

Following the president's announcement, Eisenkot wrote on X: "This is the time to establish a national emergency government. I will do anything possible to prove us worthy."

How long does Eisenkot have to form Israel's next government?

Under Israel's Basic Law, Eisenkot will initially have 28 days from receiving the mandate to form a government. Herzog may allow up to 14 additional days, taking the maximum period to six weeks. Eisenkot must secure enough parliamentary backing for his proposed administration to win a confidence vote.

If Eisenkot cannot form a government, Herzog may give another lawmaker, potentially Netanyahu, an opportunity to do so. If subsequent attempts fail, the Knesset can put forward a candidate under the legal process. Another election would follow if no government can be formed.

The newly elected Knesset is scheduled to be sworn in on Tuesday, while negotiations over a new government continue.

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