Eisenkot is trying to form government in Israel. Here are five ways it could go

Former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot has been invited to attempt to form a new government in Israel, following the president's consultations with representatives of each of the political parties that won seats in the recent election. The support behind Eisenkot was overwhelmingly pro-Netanyahu, with 67 seats in the 120-seat Knesset backing his candidacy, compared to 46 seats for incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu. However, the path to forming a coalition government is complex and could involve various scenarios.

One possible outcome is the formation of a minority government, comprising 48 seats from the anti-Netanyahu parties, who would then have to rely on the support of the two Arab-Israeli parties to pass legislation. This would require these parties to effectively green-light the government's agenda, despite their opposition to the Arab-Israeli vote. However, the leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, Avigdor Liberman, has expressed a desire for a majority government, suggesting he may be reluctant to cooperate with the Arab parties.

Another potential scenario involves the creation of a coalition of 61 seats, consisting of all the Jewish parties that oppose Netanyahu, along with the two ultra-Orthodox parties. This coalition would be short of the required majority but could potentially force changes in military service policies for the Haredi community, a contentious issue in recent years. However, this approach would be at odds with their pre-election policy platforms and could face opposition from Netanyahu.

The most favorable scenario for Eisenkot would be the formation of a government comprising 67 seats, consisting of all the anti-Netanyahu Jewish parties and the two Arab-Israeli parties. This majority would allow him to effectively remove Netanyahu from power while avoiding the controversy surrounding opposition to the Arab-Israeli parties. However, this scenario would require the parties to set aside their longstanding grievances and policy differences.

Ultimately, Gadi Eisenkot has 28 days to form a new coalition, with President Isaac Herzog having the option to extend this period by 14 days if he believes there is a chance for a deal. During this timeframe, the political landscape will continue to evolve, and the future of Israel's government remains uncertain.