Netanyahu and Eisenkot Vie for Control After Deadlocked Election

Israeli President Isaac Herzog urged political factions to find creative solutions to avoid repeat elections following the October 27 polls. The results left the Knesset deadlocked: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc secured 53 seats, while Gadi Eisenkot's change bloc holds 48. Likud remains the largest single party with 27 seats, followed by the Yashar Party with 21.

Netanyahu has called for a broad national government, asserting that the Jewish public chose him to lead. However, he explicitly rejected cooperation with Arab parties such as Ra'am and the Joint List, claiming they support terrorism. Meanwhile, Eisenkot proposed a broad Zionist government based on four principles, including the recognition of Israel as a Jewish, democratic, liberal, and egalitarian state and the commitment to destroy Hamas's power in the Gaza Strip.

Opposition leaders, including Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Liberman, have recommended Eisenkot to the presidency to form the government. Liberman further accused the Palestinian Authority of meddling in the elections to radicalize Arab parties. While some opposition members support partnering with Arab-majority lists, Liberman remains staunchly opposed.

Negotiations are complicated by deep policy divides over ultra-Orthodox conscription, judicial reforms, and the creation of an October 7 commission of inquiry. Additionally, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly pressured Israel to exclude far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich to facilitate regional diplomacy. President Herzog will begin formal consultations with party representatives on Wednesday.