Netanyahu Suffers Political Setback as Herzog Tasks Gadi Eisenkot with Forming Israel's Next Government

Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suffered a major political setback after President Isaac Herzog tasked opposition leader and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot with forming the country's next government following the October 27 general election.

Eisenkot, who leads the Yashar party, secured the backing of 67 lawmakers during consultations with parliamentary factions, significantly ahead of Netanyahu, who received 46 recommendations. Another seven lawmakers declined to endorse either candidate.

Herzog announced his decision on Saturday, November 7, after holding consultations with political leaders, including Netanyahu and Eisenkot. The formal transfer of the mandate is scheduled for Sunday, November 8, at 5 pm local time at the President's Residence in Jerusalem.

Eisenkot now has 28 days to assemble a governing coalition, with the possibility of a 14-day extension if necessary. The mandate gives him the first opportunity to replace Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister.

The recommendations reflect the shifting political equations in the 120-member Knesset, where a minimum of 61 seats is required to secure a parliamentary majority.

Eisenkot received the backing of 48 lawmakers from the Change Bloc, seven members of the Arab party Ra'am and 12 representatives of the Joint List. Netanyahu secured 46 recommendations from his right-wing and religious allies, while seven lawmakers from United Torah Judaism (UTJ) chose not to support either candidate.

However, the 67 recommendations do not automatically translate into a stable governing majority. Differences among the parties backing Eisenkot could make coalition negotiations complicated.

The Arab-led factions have indicated that they may support an alternative to Netanyahu from outside the government rather than necessarily becoming part of the coalition. Their involvement remains politically sensitive, with some parties in Eisenkot's camp reluctant to rely on their support.

A former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Eisenkot entered politics in 2022. His Yashar party secured 21 seats in the October 27 election, while the broader Change Bloc won 48 seats.

He emerged as Netanyahu's principal challenger by bringing together political groups ranging from the centre-left to the right, united primarily by their opposition to the incumbent prime minister.

Eisenkot briefly served in Netanyahu's wartime cabinet following Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack before returning to the opposition. Since then, he has criticised the government's handling of the Gaza war and ruled out joining any administration headed by Netanyahu.

Despite the latest development, Netanyahu has not conceded defeat and continues to advocate the formation of a national unity government.

He has strongly opposed any administration dependent on Arab-led parties, accusing them of supporting terrorism. Eisenkot's party has criticised these remarks and urged members of Netanyahu's Likud party to reconsider their alliance with far-right political partners.

Coalition negotiations are also expected to face major hurdles over the Gaza war, national security policy, military conscription and Netanyahu's leadership.

Eisenkot has several possible routes to forming a government, including establishing a minority administration with external support from Arab lawmakers, negotiating with ultra-Orthodox parties or attempting to build a broader national unity coalition.

Each option, however, presents significant political challenges. Disagreements over exemptions from compulsory military service for ultra-Orthodox men could prove particularly difficult in negotiations with religious parties.

If Eisenkot fails to form a government within the initial 28-day period, Herzog can grant him an additional 14 days. Should that attempt also fail, the President may assign the mandate to another candidate, potentially giving Netanyahu another opportunity.

If political parties remain unable to reach an agreement, Israel could eventually be forced into another general election.

Herzog's decision marks a significant challenge to Netanyahu's long-standing political dominance, although the final outcome will depend on Eisenkot's ability to convert parliamentary recommendations into a workable coalition.

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