Gadi Eisenkot Given First Chance To Form Israel’s Next Government In Setback For Netanyahu

Gadi Eisenkot has been given the first opportunity to form Israel’s next government after an inconclusive election left Benjamin Netanyahu without a parliamentary majority.

President Isaac Herzog announced his decision on Saturday, 7 November, following consultations with political parties elected to the Knesset. Eisenkot, a former military chief and leader of the centrist Yashar party, now faces the challenge of bringing together enough lawmakers to establish a governing coalition. He has up to six weeks to complete the process, although political divisions could make negotiations difficult.

The decision followed an election held on 27 October, in which neither Netanyahu's political bloc nor the opposition secured the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority. Eisenkot received recommendations from lawmakers representing 67 seats, compared with 46 backing Netanyahu. The support included representatives from two Arab-led parties, while United Torah Judaism, traditionally aligned with Netanyahu, declined to recommend him.

Despite receiving the mandate, Eisenkot does not yet have a confirmed governing coalition. His proposed arrangement would bring together four Jewish opposition parties, holding a combined 48 seats. These include Yashar, the Together alliance led by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu and the left-wing Democrats led by Yair Golan. Support from additional lawmakers would be necessary for the government to survive parliamentary challenges.

One possible route would involve securing support from the two Arab-led parties, which together hold 19 seats. They could provide parliamentary backing without necessarily joining the Cabinet. However, the arrangement faces resistance from some of Eisenkot's potential partners, particularly Lieberman, who has repeatedly rejected a government dependent on Arab parties. The issue remains politically sensitive in Israel, especially following the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023.

Eisenkot has also set conditions for participation in his proposed government, including recognition of Israel as a Jewish, democratic, liberal and egalitarian state, support for the principles of the country's Declaration of Independence and universal service. He has also demanded recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organisation. The final condition effectively prevents the Arab-led parties from joining the Cabinet, although their support from outside the government could still prove important.

Another possibility is an agreement with ultra-Orthodox political parties, which together hold 13 parliamentary seats. Such an arrangement could potentially provide the numbers needed for a majority. However, negotiations would have to address exemptions from compulsory military service for ultra-Orthodox men, a contentious issue in Israeli politics. Eisenkot and several of his allies have supported wider national service, while religious parties have sought to protect existing exemptions.

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