Eisenkot Gets Mandate to Build Government, Leaving Netanyahu Behind

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog announced on Saturday evening that Gadi Eisenkot has been chosen to form the country’s next government. The decision bypasses incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Herzog’s spokesperson confirmed that a formal ceremony will take place Sunday to hand Eisenkot the mandate. Eisenkot is the leader of the Yashar party.

The selection follows consultations with political parties this week. Neither major bloc secured a majority in the general election held on October 27. As a result, the president had to determine which candidate had the best chance of building a stable government. Eisenkot’s four-party alliance won 48 seats in the Knesset. Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious bloc secured 53 seats. Arab-led parties won a record 19 seats, representing Palestinian citizens of Israel.

Sixty-seven lawmakers endorsed Eisenkot for the role. This group includes representatives from the Arab-led parties. In contrast, only 46 lawmakers backed Netanyahu. Eisenkot now has 28 days to build a coalition of at least 61 seats. This number is the minimum required for a parliamentary majority. He may receive a 14-day extension if needed. Alternatively, he could form a smaller government and seek a confidence vote in parliament.

Eisenkot has stated he does not want to form a government with the Arab-led parties. However, winning over the two ultra-Orthodox parties, United Torah Judaism and Shas, would give him exactly 61 seats. Without their support, he might rely on a minority government supported by the Arab parties. Ahmad Tibi, a senior member of the Joint List, described this potential arrangement as a move to remove the current leadership. The Joint List holds 11 seats.

Netanyahu reacted to the decision with strong opposition. In a prerecorded video speech, he warned that a government dependent on Arab-led parties would dismantle the state from within. He compared the political structure to European countries he described as being under Islamic law. Tibi responded by calling Netanyahu the biggest terrorist in the region. He accused the prime minister of supporting Jewish terrorism in the West Bank and Palestinian territories.

Eisenkot served as Israel’s military chief from 2015 to 2019. He sat as an observer in Netanyahu’s war cabinet during the first eight months of the war in Gaza, which began in October 2023. If Eisenkot fails to form a government within the allotted time, Herzog will nominate another candidate. If that candidate also fails, a parliamentary majority can back a third nominee. That third person would have a final 14 days. If no government is formed, a new election will be called within 90 days. Netanyahu would remain as caretaker prime minister until then.