Israel President Isaac Herzog Picks Gadi Eisenkot To Form Government, Netanyahu Faces Fight To Retain Power

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has selected Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government, dealing a significant blow to incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is striving to retain power after the October 27 parliamentary elections. A ceremony to formally hand over the mandate to Eisenkot is set for Sunday, November 8, at 5 pm local time in Jerusalem.

President Herzog announced the decision following consultations with Knesset members. The election resulted in a hung parliament, with neither Netanyahu's right-wing bloc nor the opposition alliance achieving the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-member Knesset. Eisenkot's four-party opposition alliance secured 48 seats, while Netanyahu's bloc had 53, and Arab-led parties, Ra'am and the Joint List, won 19 seats.

Despite obtaining recommendations from a majority of lawmakers, 67 in total, Eisenkot faces the challenge of assembling a cohesive coalition capable of garnering a confidence vote. He has a 28-day window to form a government, which could be extended by an additional 14 days if needed. Failure to do so may prompt President Herzog to assign the task to another candidate, with Netanyahu among potential contenders.

A prolonged struggle to form a government could ultimately lead to fresh elections. Netanyahu, whose Likud party achieved the most seats, 27, has advocated for a national unity government while criticizing the opposition for leaning on Arab-led parties. The political landscape in Tel Aviv remains uncertain as Netanyahu battles to maintain his position following years of divisive leadership and ongoing fallout from the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.