Naftali Bennett Recommends Gadi Eisenkot to Form Israeli Government

Following a parliamentary election that left the 120-member Knesset without a clear majority, Naftali Bennett, leader of the B’Yachad party, announced he will recommend Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government. Bennett stated the move honors his campaign pledge to respect the voters' decision. The election results saw Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud secure 27 seats, while Eisenkot's Yashar party won 21.

President Isaac Herzog is scheduled to begin consultations with Knesset factions on November 4 to determine who receives the mandate to assemble a coalition. Herzog has urged political leaders to find creative solutions to avoid another election, telling them to "stop climbing up trees and face the reality" of the results. The new Knesset is expected to be sworn in on November 10.

While Eisenkot seeks to form a narrow government with potential support from Ra’am and United Torah Judaism, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has privately indicated openness to a rotational premiership agreement to prevent an opposition-led government. However, Eisenkot has repeatedly ruled out serving under Netanyahu, citing the failures of the October 7 attacks. Likud has publicly criticized the effort to form a government with Eisenkot, claiming such a coalition would trample on the trust of citizens by cooperating with parties that support terrorism.