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Israeli President Isaac Herzog has tasked Gadi Eisenkot with forming the country’s next government the president’s office said in a statement released on November 7 2026 after weekend talks with party leaders. Eisenkot leader of the centrist Yashar party received recommendations from factions representing 67 members of the 120-seat Knesset compared with 46 for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu according to figures released by Herzog’s office. The president met separately with both Eisenkot and Netanyahu before making the decision The Times of Israel reported.
Herzog’s office stated that the formal mandate will be presented to Eisenkot at a ceremony on November 8 at the president’s residence in Jerusalem. The opposition leader will have 28 days to assemble a coalition that commands at least 61 seats with the possibility of a 14-day extension Al Jazeera reported. United Torah Judaism declined to recommend either candidate during the consultations but has signaled it may consider supporting an Eisenkot-led administration without joining a Netanyahu bloc according to multiple accounts.
“This is the time to establish a national emergency government. I will do everything to ensure we are worthy of the responsibility” Eisenkot said in response to receiving the mandate as quoted by Israel Hayom. The former military chief has set four conditions for any coalition including recognition of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state mandatory military service for all and a commitment to dismantling Hamas as a terrorist organization RBC-Ukraine reported. Eisenkot has ruled out forming a government that relies on Arab-led parties even though they provided key recommendations during the president’s consultations The Washington Post noted.
Netanyahu proposed forming a unity government with parties from the opposing bloc for the first time since the October 27 election Ynet News reported. The incumbent prime minister warned that any coalition depending on Arab lists which he described as Islamists would “dismantle the State of Israel from within” according to a Breitbart summary of his remarks. He urged all Zionist parties to come together to safeguard the state amid ongoing national challenges.
Eisenkot’s Yashar party secured 21 seats in last month’s vote while his broader opposition bloc holds 48 leaving it short of a majority without additional partners CNN reported. The path to a coalition remains complicated by divisions within the anti-Netanyahu camp where several Jewish-led parties refuse to partner with the Arab factions that endorsed Eisenkot The Jerusalem Post explained. Shas and United Torah Judaism together could provide the exact 61 seats needed if they agree to join without the Arab parties Al Jazeera noted.
Should Eisenkot fail to form a government within the allotted time Herzog can assign the task to another candidate under Israel’s Basic Law the Jerusalem Post detailed. A second nominee would receive 28 days without extension and if that also collapses a 21-day period would allow 61 lawmakers to nominate a third option. Failure at all stages would trigger new elections within 90 days with Netanyahu continuing as caretaker prime minister according to the same legal framework.
