Israeli President Isaac Herzog has given opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot the first opportunity to form a new government, in a setback for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the October 27 election produced no clear majority.
Herzog announced his decision on Saturday after consultations with representatives of the parties elected to the Knesset. Eisenkot, a former military chief and head of the centrist Yashar party, was recommended by representatives of more parties than Netanyahu. A formal ceremony to assign him the task is scheduled for Sunday at the president’s residence in Jerusalem.
Eisenkot now faces the difficult work of assembling a coalition capable of winning the support of at least 61 members of the 120-seat Knesset. Neither his bloc nor Netanyahu’s secured a majority in the election, leaving both dependent on negotiations with other parties.
The immediate challenge is whether Eisenkot can reconcile campaign promises with the parliamentary arithmetic. Opposition leaders had pledged not to rely on Arab-led parties in forming a government, but those parties’ support may be necessary to remove Netanyahu from office. Israeli media reported that opposition figures have discussed whether to set aside those commitments in order to assemble a coalition.
Reports also said people close to U.S. President Donald Trump were urging Eisenkot to move quickly and keep Netanyahu out of the next government. The claim has not been accompanied by public details about who delivered the message or what form the reported pressure took. Herzog’s decision, meanwhile, followed consultations among Israeli political parties and did not itself establish that any coalition agreement had been reached.
Coalition negotiations face competing demands
Eisenkot has signaled openness to cooperation with Arab-led parties under conditions, including a commitment to Israel’s security and the elimination of Hamas’s military capabilities. Such cooperation could give his opponents of Netanyahu the parliamentary numbers they need, but it risks alienating right-leaning parties within the opposition.
The negotiations also involve potential partners with sharply different positions on military service, religion and the role of Arab parties in government. Some opposition leaders have previously made opposition to relying on Arab-party support a central campaign pledge. Others have indicated greater flexibility, arguing that replacing Netanyahu is a priority.
Eisenkot has proposed mandatory national service for all Israelis, with the option of civilian rather than military service. That approach could be part of negotiations with parties representing ultra-Orthodox voters, whose exemptions from military service have been a major point of dispute. Any agreement would require concessions from parties that campaigned on different positions.
Netanyahu, who remains prime minister while coalition talks proceed, has called for a national unity government. He has also warned against forming a government that depends on Arab-led parties, describing such an arrangement as a danger to Israel. Eisenkot’s party, in turn, has invited members of Netanyahu’s Likud party to consider joining a government led by Eisenkot, while urging them to break with their existing coalition partners.
Eisenkot’s political rise and personal loss
Eisenkot entered national politics in 2022, when he became a Knesset member for the National Unity party. He later left the party amid ideological disagreements and established Yashar, a centrist movement. His emergence as Netanyahu’s principal challenger followed a period in which the opposition sought a candidate capable of uniting voters who wanted a change of government.
His campaign has also been shaped by the death of his son, Master Sergeant Gal Eisenkot, who was killed in December 2023 in an explosion in northern Gaza. Gal Eisenkot, the youngest of the former military chief’s five children, was serving during an operation related to the recovery of the remains of two hostages taken during the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023.
The elder Eisenkot has spoken publicly about the loss and its impact on his family. The personal tragedy has become part of the political context surrounding his decision to challenge Netanyahu, whose government has faced criticism over its handling of the October 7 attacks and the subsequent war.
Netanyahu has also faced corruption charges, which he denies, and widespread opposition to proposed judicial changes that prompted large demonstrations. Those issues have contributed to the political divisions that the new coalition negotiations must address.
Herzog’s decision gives Eisenkot the first chance, not a guarantee, of forming a government. He has 28 days to assemble a coalition, with the possibility of an extension of up to 14 days. If he fails, the mandate could be offered to another candidate; if no one can form a government, Israel may face another election. For now, the next step is a round of negotiations that will determine whether the opposition’s electoral gains can translate into a governing majority.
