Israeli President Selects Gadi Eisenkot to Try to Form New Government

Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced on Saturday, 7 November 2026, that he had selected opposition leader and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot to attempt to form a new government following the inconclusive parliamentary elections held on 27 October.

Herzog informed Eisenkot of his decision and invited him to the President's Residence, where he is scheduled to receive the formal mandate on Sunday, 8 November. The announcement followed consultations with political parties after neither major bloc secured a parliamentary majority.

During the consultations, parties representing 67 members of the 120-seat Knesset recommended Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, to form the next government. Parties representing 46 lawmakers recommended incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while a faction holding seven seats declined to recommend either candidate.

In the elections, Netanyahu's religious-nationalist bloc secured 53 seats, while Eisenkot's four-party alliance won 48. Parties representing Israel's Arab minority secured 19 seats. Neither major bloc reached the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority, leaving the formation of a new government dependent on negotiations with other parties.

Although Arab-led parties recommended Eisenkot during the presidential consultations, disagreements over their potential participation in a governing coalition remain a significant obstacle. Other possible arrangements include cooperation with ultra-Orthodox parties or negotiations over a broader unity government.

Once formally tasked with forming a government, Eisenkot will have 28 days to secure sufficient parliamentary support, with a possible extension of up to 14 additional days. If he fails, another candidate may be given an opportunity to form a government. Continued failure to establish a governing coalition could eventually lead to another parliamentary election.

Netanyahu remains in office while the political process continues and until a new government is formed.

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