Israeli President Tasks Gadi Eizenkot with Forming New Government, Threatening Netanyahu’s Hold on Power

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has tasked opposition leader Gadi Eizenkot with forming a new government. The former chief of staff now has his first opportunity to assemble a cabinet after parliamentary elections failed to produce a clear majority, with neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc nor the opposition securing enough seats for outright control. Eizenkot faces tough negotiations, particularly regarding cooperation with Arab parties and the future of military service in Israel.

Herzog Chooses Eizenkot Over Netanyahu

President Herzog announced his decision after post-election consultations with party representatives. Eizenkot received recommendations from lawmakers representing 67 Knesset members, while Netanyahu’s supporters totaled 46. One political group, holding seven seats, did not endorse any candidate.

Herzog emphasized that his responsibility is not to automatically select the leader of the largest party, but to assess who has a realistic chance to form a stable parliamentary majority.

The president met with both main rivals ahead of his decision, as well as other key figures in Israel’s political scene.

Eizenkot is scheduled to formally receive his mandate on Sunday, 8 November, at the presidential residence.

28 Days to Form a Government

According to Israeli law, the politician tasked with forming a government has 28 days to reach an agreement with political partners and present a new cabinet.

If more time is needed, the president can grant an extension of up to 14 days. Should Eizenkot fail, Herzog may ask another lawmaker to try. If no government is formed after all attempts, new elections may be called.

Securing the mandate does not yet mean Netanyahu is out of office. The crucial factor will be whether Eizenkot can translate his support from consultations into an actual parliamentary majority.

Opposition Needs Agreement with Arab Parties

One of the biggest obstacles in forming a government is cooperation with Arab political parties. Their votes could be decisive for Eizenkot, but not all his potential partners are willing to accept Arab parties as part of the governing coalition.

After the election, Arab parties secured a combined 19 seats in the 120-member Knesset. Their support could help the opposition achieve a majority, but the conditions and form of such cooperation remain uncertain.

Some opposition politicians are open to support from Arab lawmakers from outside the cabinet, but oppose their direct participation in government. Eizenkot will therefore need to find a compromise acceptable to a sufficient number of political actors.

Debate over Military Service Could Stall Talks

Another sensitive issue is compulsory military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews. Eizenkot advocates extending the requirement for military or civil service to broader sections of the population.

However, this approach runs up against demands from ultra-Orthodox parties to maintain exemptions for students of religious schools. This divisive issue has repeatedly complicated Israeli politics in the past, including the functioning of Netanyahu’s governments.

Eizenkot will need to find a solution that will satisfy potential partners but not weaken his own electoral commitments.

Netanyahu May Still Return to Power

Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies won 53 seats in the parliamentary elections, insufficient for a majority government on their own. However, his Likud party remains the strongest single political force in the Knesset.

On Saturday, Netanyahu called for the formation of a national unity government. This scenario could provide an alternative to a government led by Eizenkot, but its feasibility depends on the willingness of political rivals to overcome their differences.

Israel now enters a period of intensive political negotiations. Eizenkot has the first chance to demonstrate whether he can unite a divided opposition and secure the support needed to form a new government. If he fails, Netanyahu may get another opportunity to try to remain in office.

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This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.