Former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot received a mandate from President Isaac Herzog to form a new government following an inconclusive election, mounting a direct challenge to long-serving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu has led Israel on and off for nearly two decades, steering the country in a sharply rightward direction and overseeing wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran following the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas, the NZ Herald reported.
Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, formally received 28 days to form a government after receiving recommendations from parties accounting for 67 lawmakers compared to 46 for Netanyahu, though that count included Arab Israeli legislators, according to The Guardian.
Eisenkot reached out to Netanyahu’s Likud party and Bezalel Smotrich’s far-right party, stating that his door was open to anyone who understood the gravity of the moment, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Both Eisenkot and President Herzog acknowledged Israel’s growing international isolation, exacerbated by an arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court, the NZ Herald noted.
Avigdor Liberman, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, said he is open to alliances with ultra-Orthodox parties to oust Netanyahu, despite previous pledges to end military draft exemptions for that community, RNZ reported.
| Coalition Scenario | Participating Parties | Seat Count |
|---|---|---|
| Minority Government | Yashar, Together, The Democrats, Yisrael Beiteinu (with external Arab party support) | 48 (plus 19 external) |
| Ultra-Orthodox Alliance | Yashar, Together, Yisrael Beiteinu, Shas, United Torah Judaism | 61 |
| Unity Government | Yashar, Together, Yisrael Beiteinu, Likud | 67 |
Assaf Shapira of the Israel Democracy Institute noted that a minority government relying on 48 lawmakers would be exceptionally fragile, requiring extensive negotiations for every piece of legislation, according to the NZ Herald.
Meanwhile, ABC News outlined that if Eisenkot fails to secure a majority within his initial window, President Herzog can grant a 14-day extension before looking at alternative candidates or triggering fresh elections.
