Israeli President Isaac Herzog has tapped opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot to form a new government, delivering a significant political setback to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The announcement, made Saturday night, came after marathon consultations with party leaders following the inconclusive election on October 27. CBS News reported that Herzog decided to grant Eisenkot the first opportunity to build a coalition after representatives from most of Israel’s main parties recommended him for the task.
Eisenkot’s Moment: A Former General at the Helm
Eisenkot, a former military chief of staff, leads the Yashar party and a bloc of factions united in their goal of ousting Israel’s longest-serving premier. His bloc secured 48 seats in the 120-member Knesset, falling short of a majority but positioning him as the front-runner to forge a new government. In his first reaction to the designation, Eisenkot vowed to form a national emergency government. “Now is the time to form a national emergency government. I will do everything to ensure we are worthy,” he wrote on X, according to CBS News.
The decision by Herzog is a blow to Netanyahu, whose bloc managed to secure 53 seats. Netanyahu remains in his post as a caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed. If coalition talks fail, Israel would face another election, with Netanyahu staying on in the interim. Audacy, citing the Associated Press, noted that the heads of Israel’s Arab-majority parties, which won an unprecedented 19 seats, have indicated a willingness to support Eisenkot’s bloc, though most of the Jewish-led parties opposing Netanyahu had ruled out relying on their support.
Netanyahu’s Warning: Unity Government or “Terrorist Supporters”?
Netanyahu responded swiftly to Herzog’s announcement, calling for a “national unity government” in a video statement. He warned against “hastily swearing in a government with terrorist supporters,” an apparent reference to the Arab-led parties that back Eisenkot. The prime minister and his allies have repeatedly portrayed these parties as a threat to national security.
Eisenkot’s camp fired back. Yashar, his party, condemned Netanyahu’s remarks on social media, urging members of the Likud party to disavow their alliance with what it called “radical parties”—an apparent reference to the more extreme factions within Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist coalition. The statement emphasized that Eisenkot would only include parties and parliament members who recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization. Audacy reported that Eisenkot has signaled a conditional willingness to partner with Arab parties, provided they meet this key condition, including calling Hamas a terrorist group that needs to be destroyed.
The Path Forward: Coalition Hurdles and Political Chess
The task ahead for Eisenkot is fraught with difficulty. His bloc, combined with the Arab parties, holds a parliamentary majority, potentially allowing them to pass laws even without a formal coalition. However, building a stable government requires bridging deep political divides. Most of the Jewish-led parties opposing Netanyahu had vowed before the election not to rely on Arab support, creating a paradoxical situation where they may need the very partners they once rejected to oust the prime minister.
Adding to the political volatility, Netanyahu has made unsubstantiated claims that some Arab countries interfered in the election. CBS News noted that the acting director-general of the Central Elections Committee, Din Livne, dismissed these allegations in a letter, stating there was “no basis to the claims regarding a systematic compromise of the integrity of the elections.”
“Herzog’s decision is a setback for Netanyahu, who has leveled allegations, so far without evidence, that some Arab countries interfered in the elections.”
What Happens Next: The Clock Ticks on a New Government
The coming days will be critical. Eisenkot now begins the delicate process of negotiating with potential coalition partners, a task that requires balancing the demands of diverse factions while maintaining a united front against Netanyahu. The formation of a new government in Israel carries significant implications for the country’s political future.
Should Eisenkot fail to secure a coalition, the political crisis could deepen, and the country would have to hold the election all over again. For now, the spotlight is on the former military chief, who must prove he can bridge Israel’s deep political chasm. As the situation unfolds, one thing is certain: the Israeli political landscape has entered a new and uncertain chapter, with Eisenkot holding the pen.
