Gadi Eisenkot’s Change Bloc Meets in Herzliya After Netanyahu Fails To Win Majority

Eisenkot backs, Netanyahu counters

Israeli opposition leaders are set to meet for the first time since last week’s closely contested election, with Gadi Eisenkot’s camp endorsing him to be the next prime minister after neither Eisenkot’s change bloc nor incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing alliance won a majority in the Knesset. France 24 with AFP said Eisenkot’s Yashar party reported that the leaders of the so-called change bloc would meet "to discuss coordinating the bloc's next steps" in Herzliya on Tuesday morning. Netanyahu called for a "broad national government" without the Arab parties on Monday, and he said in a statement on Likud's Telegram channel, "A clear majority of the Jewish public chose Likud as the largest party and chose me, as prime minister, to lead the next government."

The election results described by France 24 with AFP put Eisenkot’s bloc at 48 seats and Netanyahu’s camp at 53 seats, including 27 from Likud, while Arab-majority lists won a record 19 seats in the 120-member parliament. France 24 with AFP said President Isaac Herzog will hold consultations with party representatives starting Wednesday, with seven days to make his choice, or until November 11, and then 28 days for the chosen candidate to form a coalition, extendable by 14 days.

Reporting for this sectionFrance 24

Arab allies divide the bloc

Yair Lapid told reporters ahead of the opposition bloc meeting that "the conduct of the past few days is another reminder that we need to remove Netanyahu and his people from the Prime Minister's Office." Ynetnews | Israeli said Golan met earlier Tuesday with Joint List leaders Yousef Jabareen and Ahmad Tibi, while Liberman wrote that "We must prevent another election" and argued there was "enough room for maneuver" to form a stable government without Ra'am or the Joint List. The Jerusalem Post said Liberman confirmed that Yisrael Beytenu would recommend Eisenkot to form the next government and that his party would support Lapid for Knesset speaker, ending speculation over who Liberman would back for the position.

The Jerusalem Post also said Liberman ruled out joining a unity government with Netanyahu and ruled out a minority government reliant on support from the Arab parties, while his stance on joining a coalition with haredi parties appeared more lenient. Ynetnews | Israeli said the change bloc’s leaders planned immediate priorities including what they described as a "takeover of the Knesset," replacing Speaker Amir Ohana, and establishing the Arrangements Committee, with such a move requiring the signatures of 61 Knesset members.

Reporting for this sectionynetglobalThe Jerusalem Post

Mandate, speaker, and deadlock

The Jerusalem Post said the opposition bloc lacks the required 61-seat Knesset majority without the support of the Arab parties, even as it described election results showing Netanyahu’s bloc at 53 seats and the opposition bloc at 48.

The Jerusalem Post quoted Ahmad Tibi saying the purpose of the Joint List and Ra’am coordination meeting was "to topple the Netanyahu, [National Security Minister Itamar] Ben-Gvir, and [Finance Minister Bezalel] Smotrich government" and replace it with "a new government of change."

Times of Israel said the four-party Zionist opposition bloc would hold its first joint meeting since last week’s election at 11:30 a.m. at the Dan Accadia Hotel in Herzliya to "discuss coordinating the bloc’s next steps," and it said President Isaac Herzog was widely expected to grant the mandate to whoever received the most recommendations.

The Jerusalem Post said the president’s consultations with party representatives were expected to begin on Wednesday, and it described the process in which the designated candidate initially has 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to form a coalition.

Ynetnews | Israeli said representatives of families affected by the October 7 massacre arrived at the meeting and declared, "You have a mandate. Do not help legitimize leaders who were at the wheel during the massacre. Form a government of change."

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