Isaac Herzog Tasks Gadi Eisenkot With Forming Israel’s Next Government, Passing Over Benjamin Netanyahu

Herzog backs Eisenkot

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog tasked Gadi Eisenkot with forming the country’s next government, passing over Benjamin Netanyahu, and Herzog said he would formally hand Eisenkot the mandate at a ceremony on Sunday.

+3Mandate ceremony set9 of 11 outlets reported it · not in La Vanguardia and 1 more▾

Herzog’s spokesperson said Herzog told Eisenkot of the decision on Saturday evening, and the presidential office said the formal ceremony would be at the president’s residence in Jerusalem on Sunday afternoon.

The consultations that preceded the decision left Eisenkot with 67 recommendations in the 120-member Knesset and Netanyahu with 46, after United Torah Judaism declined to recommend any candidate.

+667 lawmakers back Eisenkot12 of 12 outlets reported it▾

Eisenkot, who headed the army’s general staff from 2015 to 2019, said on X, "Now is the time to form a national emergency government. I will do whatever is necessary to ensure that we are up to this responsibility."

Eisenkot received a 28-day period to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension, and Netanyahu would continue as prime minister in a caretaker government until a new government is formed or new elections are held.

Reporting for this sectionAl JazeeraBBC

Arab parties and warnings

Arab-led parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel won a record 19 seats, and Eisenkot ruled out forming a government with them even though they endorsed him for the mandate. Eisenkot’s path remained complicated because United Torah Judaism declined to recommend Netanyahu and because Eisenkot was pushing for a "national emergency government" while Netanyahu warned Israel would "simply not survive" if a minority government formed with Arab party support. Eisenkot’s Yeshar party urged members of Netanyahu’s Likud party and its allies to join a coalition led by him, writing on X, "If Likud and its allies suddenly care about unity and forming a broad government".

Eisenkot rules out Arab bloc6 of 10 outlets reported it · not in El Mundo and 3 more▾

Eisenkot has 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to build a coalition of at least 61 of the Knesset’s 120 seats, and he could reach 61 by winning over United Torah Judaism and Shas. Eisenkot’s proposed minority government would comprise four Jewish opposition parties holding 48 seats, and Eisenkot set four conditions for joining, including recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization. Yeshar! labeled Netanyahu’s video message a "hysterical speech" and said Netanyahu only "speaks of 'unity' when he realizes that his days in office are counted."

Herzog’s decision followed elections that did not give Eisenkot or Netanyahu a clear path to power, and the process would continue with another candidate if Eisenkot failed within the legal deadlines. Eisenkot’s first test would come Tuesday with the swearing in of the new Knesset, and the opposition intended to replace Netanyahu’s Knesset speaker to weaken his grip on power.

Reporting for this sectionAl JazeeraBBC

Coalition math and next tests

Eisenkot has 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to build a coalition of at least 61 of the Knesset’s 120 seats, and it said he could reach 61 by winning over United Torah Judaism and Shas. Eisenkot’s proposed minority government would comprise four Jewish opposition parties holding 48 seats, and it said Eisenkot set four conditions for joining, including recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization. Yashar! labeled Netanyahu’s video message a "hysterical speech" and said Netanyahu only "speaks of 'unity' when he realizes that his days in office are counted."

Herzog’s decision followed elections that did not give Eisenkot or Netanyahu a clear path to power, and it said the process would continue with another candidate if Eisenkot failed within the legal deadlines. Eisenkot’s first test would come Tuesday with the swearing in of the new Knesset, and it said the opposition intended to replace Netanyahu’s Knesset speaker to weaken his grip on power.

Reporting for this sectionEl ConfidencialCNN