Israeli president tasks Gadi Eisenkot with forming coalition government

What happened

Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced on Saturday that he has tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot – head of the centrist Yashar party – with forming a new coalition government. The decision comes after the October 27 parliamentary election left the 120‑seat Knesset without a clear majority for either of the two main blocs.

Who is involved

• Gadi Eisenkot – former chief of staff of the Israel Defence Forces (2015‑2019) and leader of the Yashar party, which heads a 48‑seat opposition bloc.
• Benjamin Netanyahu – incumbent prime minister, whose Likud‑led right‑wing bloc secured 53 seats.
• Isaac Herzog – president of Israel, who holds the constitutional authority to assign the first coalition‑building mandate.
• Arab parties – the United Arab List and the Joint List together hold 19 seats, making them potential kingmakers.

Election numbers

• Likud and its religious‑nationalist allies: 53 seats
• Yashar bloc (Eisenkot’s coalition): 48 seats
• Arab‑led alliances: 19 seats

How the president decided

Herzog’s office released a statement saying it consulted all party delegations during the week and then informed both Eisenkot and Netanyahu of the decision. In that consultation Eisenkot received 67 recommendations for the premiership, while Netanyahu garnered 46.

The timeline

Eisenkot now has 28 days to negotiate a coalition, with the possibility of a 14‑day extension if the president deems it necessary. In his first public reaction, Eisenkot wrote on X: "Now is the time to form a national emergency government. I will do everything to ensure we are worthy."

Political context

No Israeli party has ever won an outright majority; governments are always formed through alliances. While the Arab parties’ 19 seats give them unprecedented leverage, most Jewish parties have pledged not to join a coalition that includes them. Eisenkot has signalled openness to broad dialogue but has not confirmed whether Arab support will be part of any final agreement.

Netanyahu’s position

Netanyahu is contesting the mandate, arguing that his bloc remains the largest in the Knesset and that he should be given a chance to form a government. He continues to rally his coalition partners while the president’s decision underscores the democratic process and the continuity of governance.

What comes next

If Eisenkot succeeds, he will present his coalition to the Knesset for a confidence vote, potentially replacing Netanyahu as prime minister. Should he fail within the allotted period, Herzog may turn the mandate to Netanyahu or, in a worst‑case scenario, call for fresh elections. The president’s move is being portrayed as a step toward maintaining national stability and ensuring that Israel’s institutions function smoothly despite a tightly contested election.