Israeli President Isaac Herzog has asked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to form a new government after an election left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition without parliamentary majority.
Herzog’s office said on Saturday night said that the president had informed Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, of his intention to give him the mandate to form a government.
The formal appointment is expected to take place at a ceremony at the president’s residence in Jerusalem on Sunday.
“This is the time to establish a national emergency government. I will do anything possible to prove us worthy,” Eisenkot wrote on X following the announcement.
The decision brings Eisenkot a step closer to replacing Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, after the religious-nationalist coalition lost its parliamentary majority in the October 27 election.
Netanyahu’s camp secured 54 seats in the 120-member parliament, while Eisenkot’s opposition bloc won 48, leaving both short of the 61 seats required to form a government.
During consultations with Herzog, Eisenkot received endorsements from two Arab-majority political lists, whose support could prove decisive in coalition negotiations.
However, it remains uncertain whether Eisenkot’s bloc would accept a formal alliance with the Arab-led parties, particularly after more than three years of war in Gaza.
Netanyahu has opposed any arrangement involving the Arab parties, warning against forming a government with “terrorist supporters”. He has also called for a national unity government.
Eisenkot has indicated a willingness to work with Arab-led parties under certain conditions, including their acceptance that Hamas is a terrorist organisation that must be dismantled.
He has pledged to take action against extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank who have attacked Palestinians, describing the incidents as “Jewish terror” allegedly enabled by Netanyahu’s government.
However, Eisenkot opposes the creation of a Palestinian state and has vowed to end Hamas’ rule in Gaza and destroy its military wing.
He served as Israel’s military chief of staff between 2015 and 2019 and commanded the military during the 2006 war with Hezbollah.
During that conflict, he developed the “Dahiya doctrine”, which advocates the use of overwhelming military force against civilian infrastructure in areas controlled by Hezbollah.
Eisenkot has 28 days to secure the support of at least 61 lawmakers and form a government. Herzog can grant him an additional 14 days if he fails to meet the deadline.
If he cannot secure a parliamentary majority within the allotted period, the president may offer the mandate to another candidate. Failure by any candidate to form a government could trigger another election.
Israel has held five elections between 2019 and 2022 following repeated political deadlocks.
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