Israel's President Gives Eisenkot 28 Days to Form Government, Not Netanyahu

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has asked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, not Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to try to form the next government after an election that left neither side with a majority. Herzog's office said he told Eisenkot of his intention on Saturday night, with a formal handover set for Sunday at the president's residence in Jerusalem.

Eisenkot, leader of the centrist Yashar party, will have 28 days to assemble a coalition of at least 61 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, with a possible 14-day extension. If he fails, the mandate can pass to someone else, and Israel could head back to the polls, according to The Guardian, NPR and Al Jazeera.

How the vote and the endorsements stacked up

In the Oct. 27 election, Netanyahu's right-wing and religious bloc won 53 seats, while Eisenkot's wide-ranging opposition alliance won 48, according to The Guardian and Al Jazeera. Neither reached the 61 needed. NPR reported that Netanyahu's Likud party won 27 seats, six more than Yashar, making it the largest single party.

Al Jazeera reported that during Herzog's consultations this week, 67 lawmakers endorsed Eisenkot, while 46 backed Netanyahu. The Guardian reported that both Arab-majority lists recommended Eisenkot. Arab-led parties won a record 19 seats, according to Al Jazeera.

Eisenkot's case

Eisenkot, 66, served as military chief of staff from 2015 to 2019. NPR reported that he later joined Netanyahu's emergency war cabinet after the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, then left, saying Netanyahu had failed to make progress toward ending the Gaza war and freeing hostages. NPR also reported that his son Gal, a reservist, was killed in Gaza, along with two of his nephews.

On X, Eisenkot said the moment called for a “national emergency government” and promised to do everything to be worthy of the task. The Guardian reported that he has pledged to unite Israelis after Netanyahu's divisive tenure and to crack down on extremist settlers who attack Palestinians. He opposes a Palestinian state and has vowed to end Hamas rule in Gaza.

Al Jazeera reported that Eisenkot has ruled out forming a government with the Arab-led parties. Adding them would give him a 67-seat bloc. Winning over the two ultra-Orthodox parties, United Torah Judaism and Shas, would give him exactly 61 seats. He could also govern with fewer than 61 seats if he wins a confidence vote.

Netanyahu and the Arab parties

Hours before Herzog's decision, Netanyahu said in a prerecorded video that a government dependent on Arab-led parties would “dismantle the state of Israel from within,” according to Al Jazeera. NPR described the outcome as a setback for the prime minister, who is Israel's longest-serving premier, according to The Guardian.

Ahmad Tibi, a senior member of the Joint List, which holds 11 seats, told Al Jazeera that Herzog's choice was expected. He said Arab-led parties had feared the president would push for a national unity government pairing Eisenkot with Netanyahu. Tibi said he believes Eisenkot is headed for a minority government with outside support from Arab parties. He rejected Netanyahu's characterization of them as terrorism supporters and answered with sharp accusations against the prime minister. Tibi said the Arab parties' priority is ending the Netanyahu-led government.

The Guardian noted it remains unclear whether Eisenkot's bloc would accept support from the Arab lists. Al Jazeera's Nour Odeh said both sides have strong reasons to want Netanyahu out, even though Eisenkot has said he does not want them in his government.

What's at stake for Israelis

If Eisenkot succeeds, Netanyahu would be replaced as prime minister. If he does not, Israel faces more political uncertainty, with Netanyahu staying on as caretaker prime minister in the meantime, according to NPR and Al Jazeera. The country held five elections between 2019 and 2022 because of repeated deadlocks, The Guardian noted.

What happens next

Herzog will formally give Eisenkot the mandate at 5 p.m. local time on Sunday, NPR reported. Eisenkot then has 28 days to find 61 votes, with a possible 14-day extension.

Al Jazeera reported that if he fails, Herzog will nominate another candidate. If that nominee also fails, a majority in parliament can back a third candidate, who would get a final 14 days. If no government emerges, a new election would be called within 90 days.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by The Guardian, NPR, Al Jazeera