Israeli President Tasks Gadi Eisenkot with Forming New Government

OPA WIRE, Nov 7 (OPA) — Israeli President Isaac Herzog officially designated opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to form a new government on Friday, following consultations with party leaders after the October 27 elections yielded no clear parliamentary majority. Herzog's office announced that the official mandate will be formally presented to Eisenkot during a ceremony at the presidential residence in Jerusalem on Sunday. The decision follows a fragmented election where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party won 27 seats, but his allied nationalist and religious bloc secured only 53 of the 120 Knesset seats, falling short of a majority.

Eisenkot, leader of the Yesh Atid party—which captured 21 seats to become the second-largest in parliament—secured widespread backing during the presidential consultations. Although Eisenkot has historically avoided formal coalitions with Arab parties, two factions representing Arab citizens of Israel garnered an unprecedented 19 seats and provided crucial recommendations for his candidacy. Following the announcement, Eisenkot posted on X: "Now is the time to form a national emergency government. I will do everything in my power to be worthy of this responsibility."

Outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharply condemned the designation, warning in a prerecorded video address that a government reliant on Arab parties would lead to Israel's internal collapse. Netanyahu asserted that such an administration would mirror deteriorations seen in European nations. Eisenkot, a 66-year-old former military chief of staff who entered politics in 2022, previously served in Netanyahu's wartime cabinet after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks before returning to the opposition. He has publicly criticized Netanyahu's handling of the Gaza war and condemned settler violence against Palestinians.

Upon receiving the formal mandate, Eisenkot will have 28 days to build a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension. Potential paths include forming a minority government backed by Arab factions, courting ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties, or establishing a national unity government with Netanyahu, though Eisenkot has previously ruled out serving alongside the incumbent prime minister. If Eisenkot fails to secure a governing majority within the allotted timeframe, the mandate will shift to another candidate, raising the specter of fresh elections if the political deadlock persists.