Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is confronting the prospect of losing power after President Isaac Herzog announced he will task opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming the country’s next government, following the October 27 parliamentary elections.
Herzog revealed his decision on Saturday, November 7, after consultations with the political parties represented in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.
Eisenkot, who leads the Yashar party and previously served as chief of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), drew recommendations from lawmakers holding 67 seats. By contrast, 46 lawmakers recommended Netanyahu for the mandate. The seven members of the United Torah Judaism party declined to recommend either candidate.
The president’s announcement came after days of talks with political leaders aimed at establishing which candidate had the best chance of securing the parliamentary backing required to build a government. According to the President’s Office, Herzog notified both Eisenkot and Netanyahu of his decision on Saturday evening.
Eisenkot is scheduled to receive the formal mandate at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem at 5pm on Sunday, November 8. He will then have 28 days to assemble a governing coalition, with the option of a 14-day extension, according to reports.
The October 27 elections produced no clear winner, leaving Israel to navigate yet another round of coalition negotiations. Final results showed Netanyahu’s Likud party winning 27 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while Eisenkot’s Yashar party secured 21.
Netanyahu’s bloc took 53 seats, while parties opposed to his government won 48. Two Arab-led parties claimed the remaining 19 seats. A party or coalition needs at least 61 seats to command a majority in the Knesset and form a government.
Backing from the Arab-led parties helped Eisenkot secure the highest number of recommendations during Herzog’s consultations, though their participation in a governing coalition remains politically contentious, according to reports from Israel. Some parties within Eisenkot’s camp have opposed forming a government with Arab parties, casting uncertainty over how he will reach the required parliamentary majority.
Eisenkot’s selection does not automatically remove Netanyahu from office, but it hands the opposition leader the first opportunity to negotiate with other political parties and form a new government.
Should Eisenkot fail to secure the necessary support within the 28-day period, or within any extension granted by the president, the process could result in another candidate receiving the mandate or in further political consultations. Netanyahu would remain prime minister in a caretaker capacity until a new government is formed.
The negotiations could involve discussions with parties outside Eisenkot’s immediate political bloc, including potential partners whose support would be needed to cross the 61-seat threshold.
Netanyahu, one of Israel’s longest-serving prime ministers, has held the office across separate periods since 1996, including his current tenure, which began in December 2022.
