Gadi Eisenkot Pledges National Emergency Government After Israeli Elections

Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party, pledged to form a national emergency government following the October 27 parliamentary elections. The move comes after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc secured only 53 seats, falling short of the 61 required for a majority.

Eisenkot is expected to receive the mandate from President Isaac Herzog. This follows an agreement among opposition leaders, including Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Golan, to recommend Eisenkot for prime minister to avoid another election. While opposition and Arab parties hold enough combined seats to support the move, leaders continue to negotiate the specific role of Arab lawmakers within the coalition.

Eisenkot vowed to uphold liberal values and introduce leadership serving all citizens. He also committed to strengthening bipartisan relations with the United States under President Donald Trump, describing the bond as a partnership rooted in shared security interests and democratic values. The new Knesset is scheduled to convene on November 10.