President Herzog Tasks Gadi Eisenkot to Form Israeli Government

President Isaac Herzog tasked Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar Party and former military chief, with forming Israel's next government on November 7, 2026. The decision followed an inconclusive October 27 election where Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc secured 53 seats and Eisenkot's opposition bloc won 48. Eisenkot received recommendations from 67 lawmakers, while Netanyahu received 46.

Eisenkot has 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to secure a 61-seat majority in the 120-member Knesset. He has proposed a national emergency government based on four pillars: recognizing Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, upholding the Declaration of Independence, implementing universal military conscription, and dismantling Hamas. While Arab-led parties won a record 19 seats and endorsed Eisenkot, he faces internal divisions; some allies, including Avigdor Liberman, resist relying on Arab factions.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, now serving as caretaker, warned that a coalition dependent on Arab parties would be "national suicide" and would "dismantle the State of Israel from within." He called for a national unity government of Zionist parties to address threats from Iran. The Yashar Party dismissed these appeals as "pathetic spin," and other opposition leaders, such as Yair Golan and Ahmad Tibi, rejected Netanyahu's involvement in the new government.

Concurrent with the mandate, the 26th Knesset is preparing to be sworn in. The anti-Netanyahu bloc intends to use the Arrangements Committee to repeal judicial overhaul laws and establish a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 massacre. They also seek to replace Knesset speaker Amir Ohana.