Israel’s 26th Knesset convened on Tuesday in Jerusalem without a government, as former military chief Gadi Eisenkot and his opposition allies launched an immediate legislative push against caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s legacy, channelnewsasia.com reported.
An Upended Parliamentary Math
The October 27 general election stripped Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party and its far-right and ultra-Orthodox allies of their majority. The bloc now holds just 53 of the 120 Knesset seats, according to channelnewsasia.com. Eisenkot’s centre-right Yashar party and its patchwork partners command 48 seats. Neither side cleared the 61-seat threshold required to govern.
Isaac Herzog tasked Eisenkot with forming the next administration after lawmakers representing 67 seats recommended him, compared to 46 seats backing Netanyahu, NDTV reported. A party holding the remaining seven seats backed neither candidate.
Eisenkot faces an initial deadline of December 6 to secure a coalition, though he can request a two-week extension to December 20, channelnewsasia.com noted. His potential paths include a minority government with Arab-party support, courting reluctant ultra-Orthodox factions, or forging a unity government with Netanyahu.
Challenging the Incumbent Agenda
Before taking his oath, Eisenkot announced an agreement with opposition leaders Naftali Bennett, Yair Golan, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Lapid regarding key parliamentary posts and committee assignments, according to NDTV. The bloc named former minister Matan Kahana as their candidate for Speaker of the Knesset.
“I am committed in this complex situation to form a national-emergency government as quickly as possible,” Eisenkot said.
Eisenkot’s allies also moved to repeal a judicial overhaul implemented by Netanyahu’s government, which had sparked mass protests, according to The Straits Times. Outgoing speaker Amir Ohana stated he granted a request from 67 Knesset members to hold a vote for his successor on November 17, despite his opposition to the emerging coalition.
Herzog Urges Lawmakers to Examine October 7 Catastrophe
Addressing the newly sworn-in parliament, President Herzog urged lawmakers to leave no stone unturned in examining the catastrophe of October 7 while navigating ongoing security threats from Iran and its proxies, channelnewsasia.com reported.
Eisenkot acknowledged that his path to power remains extraordinarily complex. Ultra-Orthodox parties have resisted joining his proposed government, and right-wing figures within his own alliance, such as Avigdor Lieberman, have balked at relying on Arab-majority parties. Meanwhile, Netanyahu has pleaded with his base to hold firm, warning that alternative promises will quickly vanish.
