President Isaac Herzog has tasked Gadi Eisenkot with forming Israel’s next government, giving the former military chief 28 days to end weeks of deadlock. The Eisenkot mandate, announced on Saturday evening, passes over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose coalition lost its majority in the October 27 election.
Herzog told both men of his decision on Saturday evening, after further talks with party leaders over the weekend. Eisenkot will formally receive the mandate at a ceremony at the President’s Residence on Sunday at 5pm, the president’s office said. He then has 28 days to present a coalition, and Herzog can grant a further 14 days if needed.
Eisenkot welcomed the decision. “It is time to form a national emergency government,” he said. Al Jazeera reported that Herzog communicated his decision to Eisenkot on Saturday evening, while Dawn reported the 67-46 split in recommendations. Netanyahu will stay on as prime minister in a caretaker government until a new coalition takes office, or until a fresh election is called if no candidate succeeds.
The numbers behind the Eisenkot mandate
Herzog’s choice followed a week of consultations with every party in the incoming Knesset. Factions representing 67 of the 120 lawmakers recommended Eisenkot, against 46 for Netanyahu, and seven recommended no one.
Likud won the most seats of any single party, with 27, but Netanyahu’s wider coalition managed only 53 seats, short of the 61 needed for a majority. Eisenkot’s Yashar party won 21 seats, while his four-party coalition took 48. Two parties representing Israel’s Arab minority won an unprecedented 19 seats, and their backing made Eisenkot the clear choice. The 67 recommendations were the largest number given to a candidate since 2015, according to the Times of Israel.
Eisenkot’s bid for government won Arab backing earlier in the week, a development that turned the Arab parties into the decisive force in the consultations. Herzog had said he would announce his decision on Sunday, after warning that competing demands and mutual vetoes within the blocs made the outcome uncertain.
Only 48 of the 67 lawmakers who recommended Eisenkot are ready to work together without conditions, and several parties have yet to commit to joining his government. Eisenkot has also made recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organisation a condition for parties seeking to join, a demand that could complicate talks with the Arab parties whose support he needs.
Three paths, all difficult
Analysts say Eisenkot faces three possible routes to a majority, and each looks unlikely: a minority government relying on Arab support from outside the coalition, a deal with ultra-Orthodox parties he and his allies have avoided, or a unity government with Netanyahu himself.
There was movement on one front last week, when opposition leader Avigdor Liberman, who campaigned against military-service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews, signalled a willingness to negotiate with their representatives. That shift opened a path that had looked closed, but it has not yet produced an agreement.
What happens if he fails
If Eisenkot cannot build a coalition within 28 days, Herzog can grant a further 14 days. If he still fails, Herzog must decide within three days whether to give another candidate 28 days, with no extension. After that, 61 lawmakers can jointly ask for a named candidate to be given 14 days. If every attempt fails, the Knesset is dissolved and Israel returns to the polls. Dawn reported that the whole process carries a deadline of around 100 days.
The new Knesset is sworn in on November 10, and parties aligned with Eisenkot seek an early vote to replace the speaker, Likud’s Amir Ohana.
The deadlock has unfolded while the region stays tense. The United States has set up a task force to block Iranian land trade alongside its naval blockade, and Washington and Tehran remain locked in a standoff over Iran’s nuclear programme.
The formal handover on Sunday starts the clock on the hardest part of the process: turning recommendations into a working majority.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Gadi Eisenkot?
Gadi Eisenkot is a former chief of staff of the Israel Defence Forces and leader of the Yashar party. He is Netanyahu’s main rival and the opposition’s candidate for prime minister.
How long does Eisenkot have to form a government?
Eisenkot has 28 days from receiving the mandate on Sunday to build a coalition that holds at least 61 of the Knesset’s 120 seats. President Herzog can grant a further 14 days if needed.
What happens if Eisenkot fails to form a government?
If Eisenkot fails, Herzog can give another candidate 28 days to try. After that, 61 lawmakers can jointly ask for a named candidate to be given 14 days. If all attempts fail, the Knesset is dissolved and a new election is held.
When does Eisenkot formally receive the mandate?
Eisenkot will formally receive the mandate at a ceremony at the President’s Residence on Sunday at 5pm, the president’s office said.
