Isaac Herzog Tasks Gadi Eisenkot With Forming Israel’s Next Government After Deadlocked Knesset

Herzog gives Eisenkot first chance

Israeli President Isaac Herzog formally tasked opposition politician Gadi Eisenkot with forming the next government on Sunday evening, after the Knesset remained deadlocked since the October 27 election.

+5Herzog hands mandate11 of 11 outlets reported it▾

Herzog spoke at the ceremony at the presidential residence in Jerusalem, saying, “I hope with all my heart that whatever government is formed will lead to unity, connection and healing among all segments of our people – for our very existence depends on it and we have only one country,” and ABC News said Herzog gave Eisenkot 28 days to form a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension, after consultations with “all the factions elected to the Knesset,” the Israeli parliament.

+1Possible 14-day extra7 of 9 outlets reported it · not in lanouvellerepublique.fr and 1 more▾

Factions totaling 67 members of the Knesset supported Eisenkot, while a bloc of 46 members supported Netanyahu, and both Netanyahu and Eisenkot failed to secure a majority of 61 seats in the Knesset.

Eisenkot, the leader of the Yashar party, would have 28 days with a possibility of a 14-day extension, before Herzog would allow an alternative leader, most likely Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to try to do the same.

Eisenkot pledged to do “everything” to form what he described as a “national emergency government,” and he wrote on X, “Time to form a national emergency government. I will do my utmost to be worthy of the responsibility.”

+2Eisenkot pledges emergency8 of 10 outlets reported it · not in Middle East Eye and 1 more▾

Reporting for this sectionSouth China Morning PostABC

Support counts, rival reactions

Herzog said his in-depth talks with “all the factions elected to the Knesset” were conducted with “openness, candor, and transparency,” and ABC News said those consultations produced support of 67 Knesset members for Eisenkot versus 46 for Netanyahu. Aida Touma-Sliman, a Knesset member from the left-wing Hadash party and a member of the Palestinian-led Joint List, said, “He appears much more willing to compromise with the ultra-Orthodox religious parties, particularly over the law governing military conscription, than risk being seen to depend on Arab support.” National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir accused the camp that recommended him to form the government of “stealing the elections and lying to the People of Israel,” and Ben-Gvir demanded new elections.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak called on Eisenkot to act as quickly as possible to complete forming the government, and Barak described changing Netanyahu’s government and ending its stay in power as the utmost political priority. DW reported that Herzog chose Eisenkot based on a statement from his office, and it said Eisenkot would have 28 days to secure the 61 votes needed to form a government, with a 14-day extension possible if he came up short.

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What happens next

Security issues and the ongoing conflict with Iran, along with questions over Netanyahu’s management of the war in Gaza, dominated the election campaign, and Herzog said, “The State of Israel needs a stable government that can meet them over time.”

Eisenkot may have to rely on support from at least one of the two parties representing the ultra-Orthodox community, and it would also be critical for him to persuade some right-wing elements of his opposition bloc to get support from Arab parties outside the government.

Eisenkot’s path could hinge on whether he can secure support tied to tackling a violent crime wave in Palestinian communities inside Israel and stopping “violent settler pogroms” in the occupied West Bank, while Eisenkot’s willingness to compromise with ultra-Orthodox parties could shape negotiations over military conscription.

DW said that if Eisenkot succeeded in forming a government, he would take over as prime minister from Netanyahu, and it added that if no candidate succeeded, Israel would likely head to a fresh election.

Eisenkot pledged to do “everything” to form what he described as a “national emergency government,” and it said he wrote on X, “Time to form a national emergency government. I will do my utmost to be worthy of the responsibility.”

Reporting for this sectionABCAl Jazeera