Who is Gadi Eisenkot? The ex-army chief taking on Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel election
Shortly before Herzog announced his decision, Netanyahu warned against “hastily swearing in a government with terrorist supporters”, a description he uses for the Arab-led parties. He has also made unsubstantiated claims that Arab parties “stole” the elections. He has repeatedly portrayed their participation in government as a national security threat. Eisenkot, meanwhile, has indicated that he could work with them under certain conditions, including their acceptance of his position that Hamas is a terrorist organisation that must be destroyed.
10. Another election remains possible if both leaders fail
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming the country’s next government after the October 27 election failed to produce a clear parliamentary majority. Eisenkot, a former chief of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), secured recommendations from lawmakers representing 67 of the Knesset’s 120 members. Here are 10 things to know about the political developments in Israel. The mandate gives the former military chief up to 42 days to negotiate with potential partners and secure the parliamentary support needed to form a government. Eisenkot received recommendations from factions representing 67 lawmakers in the 120-member Knesset. These included the Jewish-led opposition bloc, which holds 48 seats, Arab party Ra’am with eight seats and the Joint List with 11 seats. The Joint List’s unanimous endorsement proved crucial in taking Eisenkot past the 61-seat threshold needed for a parliamentary majority. Netanyahu, meanwhile, received recommendations from factions representing 46 lawmakers. Their combined 19 seats could help him secure a majority, but working with the Arab-led parties presents a political challenge. Ra’am joined the government led by former prime minister Naftali Bennett in 2021. Such an arrangement would give the broader grouping 67 seats. The political sensitivities have also intensified following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza. His Likud party emerged as the largest single party in the October 27 election, securing 27 seats. However, his religious-nationalist bloc has fallen from its original 64 seats to 53, leaving it short of the 61 required for a parliamentary majority. If Eisenkot fails to form a government within 42 days, Herzog could give Netanyahu the next opportunity to secure a parliamentary majority. In the run-up to the 2022 election, he managed to destabilise the coalition opposing him and eventually returned to power. The process has a deadline of around 100 days. Such an arrangement would command 67 seats, but Eisenkot’s allies would have to abandon their central electoral promise of removing Netanyahu from power. Earlier reporting noted: Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Saturday tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming the next government, giving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s main challenger the first opportunity to assemble a coalition after the October 27 election produced no clear parliamentary majority. Earlier reporting noted: Eisenkot, a former military chief and head of the Yashar party, secured the backing of representatives from parties accounting for 67 lawmakers during consultations with Herzog. Netanyahu, whose Likud party emerged as the largest in parliament with 27 seats, received recommendations from factions representing 46 lawmakers. His broader bloc holds 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while Eisenkot’s opposition bloc has 48. A majority requires 61 seats.
Because of disagreements over the occupied West Bank, that administration collapsed after 18 months, partly. However, forming a coalition remains a challenge, as his bloc lacks a confirmed majority and potential partners disagree over the role of Arab parties and ultra-Orthodox factions.
In a statement responding to Netanyahu’s appeal for a unity government, Yashar urged Likud members to distance themselves from what it described as an alliance with “radical parties”, apparently referring to the far-right factions in Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist bloc. The proposed government, Netanyahu said, would “permanently remove the nuclear threat from Iran, preserve Israel as a Jewish state, and bring unity among us”. Democratic Party chairman Yair Golan said Netanyahu’s government must be replaced by a “government of salvation and change” to protect Israel’s democracy, security and future.
It has given Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ‘s main challenger the first opportunity to take power. Netanyahu, whose Likud remains the largest party, is meanwhile pushing for a national unity government. The decision marks a significant setback for Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, whose attempt to retain power suffered a blow after most parliamentary factions recommended Eisenkot for the post. In his first reaction, Eisenkot called for a national emergency government. “Now is the time to form a national emergency government. I will do everything to ensure we are worthy,” he wrote on X. Seven lawmakers did not endorse either candidate. However, the recommendations do not automatically translate into a governing coalition. Eisenkot must still negotiate with potential partners and secure their support on key policy issues. The backing of Ra’am and the Joint List has given Eisenkot an important advantage. An Arab party has been part of an Israeli governing coalition only once before. Eisenkot could form a minority government with his natural allies, including Together, The Democrats and Israel Our Home, while relying on the Arab parties for external support. However, Avigdor Lieberman’s Israel Our Home has repeatedly ruled out supporting a minority government backed by Arab parties. Only The Democrats has publicly called for their inclusion. Eisenkot has pitched a national emergency government to address Israel’s political and security challenges. His proposed administration would be guided by four principles: recognising Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, upholding the Declaration of Independence, ensuring universal national and military conscription, and dismantling Hamas’ military and political wings. His party, Yashar, has also indicated that it would only work with parties and lawmakers who accept its principles. Despite the setback, Netanyahu remains a significant force in Israeli politics. The prime minister also suffered a setback when United Torah Judaism refused to endorse him during consultations with Herzog. The party’s decision has raised questions about the stability of his long-standing political alliance with ultra-Orthodox factions. Following Eisenkot’s appointment, Netanyahu called for the immediate formation of a broad national unity government comprising all Zionist political factions. In a televised address, he argued that Israel needed a united political leadership to address external security threats, particularly from Iran. However, the opposition rejected his appeal. Golan also called for ultra-Orthodox citizens to be conscripted into the military and integrated into the workforce. He argued that the burden of defence and taxation should not fall disproportionately on secular Israelis. A key part of Netanyahu’s political strategy has been to discourage any arrangement between Eisenkot and the Arab-led parties. The issue could become one of the biggest obstacles in Eisenkot’s efforts to form a government. Netanyahu has used similar political manoeuvres in the past. If neither Eisenkot nor Netanyahu succeeds in forming a government, the Knesset could nominate another candidate to attempt the task. If no candidate manages to form a government within that period, Israel would have to hold another election. A unity government between Eisenkot’s partners and Netanyahu’s Likud is another possible outcome, although it appears unlikely at present. Netanyahu, in turn, would have to distance himself from his far-right and ultra-Orthodox political allies. Herzog has urged political parties to approach negotiations with an open mind and do everything possible to avoid another election. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.
Earlier reporting noted: Israeli president Herzog picks Netanyahu’s rival Gadi Eisenkot to form next government . Herzog announced his decision on Saturday after consultations with representatives of political parties and separate discussions with Eisenkot and Netanyahu.
Eisenkot and his partners could also approach Israel’s two ultra-Orthodox parties, which collectively hold 13 seats. Their support could help the opposition bloc reach the 61-seat majority without relying on Arab parties. Because the opposition bloc has a wider base of support and he would need to attract a greater number of lawmakers to secure a majority, however, his current challenge is more difficult.
However, negotiations could run into disagreements over military service exemptions traditionally granted to ultra-Orthodox seminary students. Eisenkot and Lieberman have strongly criticised these exemptions. Many Israelis believe the arrangements place an unfair burden on other citizens who serve in the military. United Torah Judaism declined to endorse either candidate during the presidential consultations, while Shas backed Netanyahu. This leaves the possibility of an agreement open, but any deal would require difficult compromises. The prime minister could attempt to weaken the opposition by persuading lawmakers from rival parties to defect and join his camp.