Gadi Eisenkot Tasked with Forming Israeli Government After Deadlocked Election

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has appointed former military chief Gadi Eisenkot to form a new governing coalition following the inconclusive October 27 election. The decision gives the opposition leader 28 days to assemble a majority and potentially end Benjamin Netanyahu's tenure as prime minister.

President Isaac Herzog announced on Saturday night that Eisenkot, leader of the centrist Yashar party, would have the first opportunity to build a government. According to Deutsche Welle, Eisenkot will attend a formal ceremony at the president’s residence on Sunday. The former military chief responded to the news on X, stating he would do everything to form a "national emergency government."

The mandate follows an election where neither of the two primary blocs secured a 61-seat majority in the 120-seat Knesset. CBS News reported that Eisenkot's opposition bloc won 48 seats, while Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist camp secured 53. However, Eisenkot secured the designation after receiving recommendations from the majority of Israel's main parties during consultations with the president this week.

A significant factor in the selection was the support of Arab-majority parties, which won an unprecedented 19 seats. While Netanyahu refused to work with these groups, Deutsche Welle noted that both Arab majority lists recommended Eisenkot. Eisenkot has expressed a willingness to partner with them provided they label Hamas as a terrorist organization that must be destroyed.

Netanyahu has challenged the process, alleging without evidence that foreign Arab countries interfered in the vote. CBS News reported that the Central Elections Committee has dismissed these claims, stating there is no basis for allegations of systematic compromise. In a video statement, Netanyahu warned against a government supported by what he termed "terrorist supporters," a reference to Eisenkot's potential Arab partners.

Eisenkot now has 28 days to finalize a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension available if needed. If he is successful, he will replace Netanyahu, who is currently Israel's longest-serving premier. If Eisenkot fails to meet the 61-vote threshold, the president may offer the mandate to another candidate or the country could face fresh elections.

Background

The October 27 election was a challenge to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's long-standing leadership. Gadi Eisenkot ran as the primary challenger at the head of a bloc of parties specifically aimed at ousting Netanyahu from power.