{
  "id": 18784719,
  "title": "Israeli president picks Netanyahu's rival Gadi Eisenkot to try to form government",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/israeli-president-picks-netanyahus-rival-gadi-eisenkot-to-try-to-form",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-07T20:25:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2042866/israeli-president-picks-netanyahus-rival-gadi-eisenkot-to-try-to-form-government"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On 28 October, Israel's President Isaac Herzog selected Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief and strongest rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to attempt forming a new government. The election held on 27 October had resulted in a deadlock, with neither Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition nor Eisenkot's Yashar party securing a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Prior to the election, Arab leaders nominated Eisenkot, hoping his support would surpass the required 61-seat majority. The president personally met with both Eisenkot and Netanyahu to deliberate on the nomination. Eisenkot, lacking an outright majority, would have 28 days to form a government, with a potential extension of 14 days. His possible routes to power include forming a minority government with support from the Arab parties, cooperating with ultra-Orthodox parties, or creating a unity government with Netanyahu. However, experts believe all three options are improbable. If Eisenkot cannot form a government, another can be nominated, and if that also fails, another election will be held within 100 days. The last election resulted in Likud securing 27 seats, while Netanyahu's coalition gathered 53 seats, falling short of the 61-seat majority needed for a government. Eisenkot's party, Yashar, emerged as the second-largest with 21 seats, while his coalition, consisting of four center-left to right-wing Jewish-led parties, garnered just 48 seats. The Arab minority parties won an unprecedented 19 seats.",
  "summary": "Israel’s president on Saturday chose Gadi Eisenkot, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strongest rival, to try to form a new government following a deadlocked election that left neither man with a clear path to power. Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving leader, is fighting to stay in office after his religious-nationalist coalition lost its majority in an Oct 27 election but still emerged as the…",
  "key_points": [
    "President Isaac Herzog chose Gadi Eisenkot to form a new government.",
    "Eisenkot, Netanyahu's rival, secured 21 seats in the Knesset.",
    "Eisenkot has 28 days to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 13,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Netanyahu calls for unity government in first since election, warns of 'coalitions with Islamists'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/netanyahu-calls-for-unity-government-in-first-since-election-warns-of",
        "published": "2026-11-07T18:22:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Netanyahu calls for unity government, warns against Arab-backed coalition",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/netanyahu-calls-for-unity-government-warns-against-arab-backed",
        "published": "2026-11-07T18:32:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Haaretz",
        "title": "Netanyahu calls for unity government, warns of coalition with 'Hamas supporters'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/netanyahu-calls-for-unity-government-warns-of-coalition-with-hamas",
        "published": "2026-11-07T18:55:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "🔴 Israeli president picks Netanyahu's rival Eisenkot to try to form government",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/israeli-president-picks-netanyahus-rival-eisenkot-to-try-to-form",
        "published": "2026-11-07T19:38:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBC News",
        "title": "Israel president asks Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu's rival, to form new government",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/israel-president-asks-gadi-eisenkot-netanyahus-rival-to-form-new",
        "published": "2026-11-07T19:46:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Investing.com",
        "title": "Israeli president picks Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu rival, to try to form government",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/israeli-president-picks-gadi-eisenkot-netanyahu-rival-to-try-to-form",
        "published": "2026-11-07T19:54:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Israeli president picks Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu rival, to try to form government",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/israeli-president-picks-gadi-eisenkot-netanyahu-rival-to-try-to-form-18785721",
        "published": "2026-11-07T20:07:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Sky News",
        "title": "Blow for Netanyahu as opposition rival asked to form government by Israel's president",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/blow-for-netanyahu-as-opposition-rival-asked-to-form-government-by",
        "published": "2026-11-07T20:10:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Global News",
        "title": "Israel’s president taps opposition candidate Eisenkot to form government",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/israels-president-taps-opposition-candidate-eisenkot-to-form",
        "published": "2026-11-07T20:15:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Financial Times",
        "title": "Israel’s president gives Gadi Eisenkot first shot at forming a government",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/israels-president-gives-gadi-eisenkot-first-shot-at-forming-a",
        "published": "2026-11-07T20:20:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Israeli president asks Netanyahu rival Gadi Eisenkot to try to form government",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/israeli-president-asks-netanyahu-rival-gadi-eisenkot-to-try-to-form",
        "published": "2026-11-07T20:36:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Israeli president asks Netanyahu rival Gadi Eisenkot to try to form government",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/israeli-president-asks-netanyahu-rival-gadi-eisenkot-to-try-to-form-18787033",
        "published": "2026-11-07T20:36:18.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}