Israeli President Isaac Herzog has given opposition politician and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot the first opportunity to form a new government, dealing a setback to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Herzog formally handed Eisenkot the mandate on Sunday after consultations with political parties following Israel’s inconclusive October 27 election.
The decision brings Eisenkot a step closer to ending Netanyahu’s long rule, although he still faces difficult coalition negotiations to secure the parliamentary majority needed to form a government.
Neither Eisenkot’s bloc nor Netanyahu’s camp won enough seats to command a majority in the Knesset, leaving both sides dependent on potential political allies.
Speaking at the presidential residence in Jerusalem, Herzog said he hoped the next government would promote unity and heal divisions within Israeli society.
“I hope with all my heart that whatever government is formed will lead to unity, connection and healing among all segments of our people — for our very existence depends on it, and we have only one country,” he said.
Eisenkot promised to provide leadership that would serve the interests of the public and represent all sections of society.
“An absolute majority of Knesset members representing the Israeli public support change,” he said, adding that he would approach the negotiations with patience, humility and a commitment to a secure and democratic Israel.
He has up to 28 days to form a coalition, with the possibility of a two-week extension from the president.
Coalition talks face major challenges
One of Eisenkot’s biggest challenges will be securing support from Arab-led parties, which made significant gains in the election following increased voter turnout among Israel’s Arab citizens.
The Ra’am party has indicated its willingness to support him, while the Joint List has offered to back his government from outside the coalition.
Such an arrangement would break with decades of political tradition, as only one Arab party has previously joined an Israeli governing coalition, in 2021.
However, cooperation could prove difficult for both sides. The Arab-led parties have criticised Israel’s military operations and settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, while some of Eisenkot’s potential partners oppose working with them.
His Yisrael Beytenu partner has already ruled out joining a government supported by Arab-led parties.
Eisenkot has outlined four conditions for parties seeking to join his coalition. They must recognise Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, accept its declaration of independence, support military, national or civil service for all citizens, and recognise Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
It remains unclear whether his potential Arab partners would accept all the conditions.
Netanyahu has repeatedly accused Arab-led parties of stealing the election, although the claims have not been substantiated. He has also warned Eisenkot against forming an alliance with them.
Israel’s Shin Bet security agency is investigating possible foreign interference in the election. However, the Central Elections Committee and Herzog have maintained that the vote was valid and that any alleged wrongdoing did not significantly affect the outcome.
Netanyahu and religious parties remain possible options
Eisenkot has other possible routes to forming a government, including a power-sharing arrangement with Netanyahu or an agreement with ultra-Orthodox parties.
However, both options present serious political difficulties.
Eisenkot and his allies made equal military service a major campaign issue, calling for an end to longstanding exemptions granted to ultra-Orthodox men.
The religious parties, which were part of Netanyahu’s outgoing coalition, want the exemptions retained, describing them as necessary for their religious way of life.
The issue has become increasingly controversial among Israelis during the country’s years of war.
The ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party has, however, left the possibility of cooperating with Eisenkot open.
If Eisenkot fails to form a government within the allotted period, Netanyahu could be given another opportunity to secure a coalition. Should both attempts fail, Israel could return to the polls early next spring.
The new members of the Knesset are expected to be sworn in on Tuesday, while Netanyahu and his cabinet will remain in office in a caretaker capacity until a new government is formed.
Wars and US relations await the next government
Whoever eventually takes power will face major security and diplomatic challenges.
Despite ceasefires, Israeli forces remain engaged in fighting Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, while the war involving Iran, launched jointly by Israel and the United States, remains unresolved.
Herzog urged Eisenkot to use his military experience to help unite the country, particularly as Israel continues to deal with the consequences of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks and the conflicts that followed.
The president also pointed to changing political conditions in the United States, where recent midterm election results have raised questions about the level of support for Israel across both major parties.
US President Donald Trump, reacting to Eisenkot receiving the first chance to form a government, said the former military chief and Netanyahu had similar political views.
Trump made the remarks while speaking to reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday.
The political contest now places Eisenkot in a position to challenge Netanyahu’s hold on power, but the outcome will depend on whether he can overcome the divisions among potential coalition partners.
