Israel’s President Isaac Herzog has nominated opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to form a new government after a deadlocked election left neither him nor Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a clear path to securing power.
The decision, announced on Saturday, gives Eisenkot, Netanyahu’s strongest political rival, the first opportunity to form a coalition following the October 27 election, in which the prime minister’s religious-nationalist bloc lost its parliamentary majority.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving leader, is seeking to remain in office despite the setback, with his coalition emerging as the largest bloc in the 120-member Knesset but falling short of the seats required to govern.
Herzog’s spokesperson said the president had invited Eisenkot to the President’s Residence, where he would be formally tasked with forming a government on Sunday.
Eisenkot, a former military chief, secured the most endorsements from lawmakers, including nominations by Arab parties, although he has ruled out joining forces with them.
The Arab parties nominated him despite his reluctance to accept their support, amid their opposition to what they describe as the racist policies of Netanyahu and his far-right allies.
Eisenkot faces difficult coalition negotiations
Eisenkot has 28 days to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension, but analysts say his chances of success remain slim.
His options include forming a minority government with external support from Arab parties, negotiating a coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties or reaching an agreement with Netanyahu to establish a unity government.
However, all three options are considered unlikely.
If Eisenkot fails, another candidate may be given the opportunity to form a government. If that attempt also fails, parliament can nominate another candidate.
The process has an overall deadline of about 100 days, after which another election would be held if no candidate succeeds.
Netanyahu’s Likud party won 27 seats, the highest number secured by any single party, but his wider religious-nationalist bloc obtained only 53 seats, below the 61 required for a parliamentary majority.
Eisenkot’s Yashar party came second with 21 seats, while his coalition of four centre-left to right-wing Jewish-led parties secured 48 seats. Two parties representing Israel’s Arab minority won a combined 19 seats, an unprecedented result.
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Eisenkot opposes Netanyahu’s far-right allies
Eisenkot, 66, is the son of Moroccan immigrants and could become Israel’s first prime minister from the Mizrahi community, whose members trace their ancestry to the Middle East and North Africa.
A former military chief who entered politics in 2022, he briefly served in Netanyahu’s wartime cabinet following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel before joining the opposition.
He has since criticised Netanyahu’s leadership, particularly his handling of the military campaign in Gaza, and has ruled out serving in a government led by the prime minister.
Eisenkot’s family has also suffered losses during the conflict, with one of his sons and two nephews killed while fighting in Gaza.
During the election campaign, he emphasised his security credentials, citing his “Dahiyeh doctrine” of responding to attacks with disproportionate force, which he employed as a military commander during Israel’s 2006 war with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
He has also condemned settler violence against Palestinians, which has increased since 2023 and strained Israel’s relations with Western countries.
Eisenkot opposes Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who have faced sanctions from some Western countries over their alleged incitement of violence against Palestinians.
