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Isaac Herzog officially tasked Gadi Eisenkot with forming the government

Ana Maria Eftene

8 November 2026, 16:58

International

Președintele Israelului, Isaac Herzog (dreapta) și liderul partidului Yashar, Gadi Eisenkot (stânga) FOTO: JNA PRESS / Sipa USA / Profimedia

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President of Israel Isaac Herzog officially entrusted, on Sunday, the leader of the main opposition bloc, Gadi Eisenkot, with the mandate to form the future government, following the legislative elections held on October 27. The ceremony took place at the presidential residence in Jerusalem, amid a political crisis in which none of the main alliances holds a majority in the Knesset.

Herzog asked Eisenkot to form a stable government and to take into account both opposition voters and those who did not vote for him. The president emphasized the need to resume regional diplomatic processes after the war, implement Donald Trump's 20-point plan for the Gaza Strip, and adapt to the new political reality in the United States.

Eisenkot stated that he was open to including the Likud party, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Religious Zionist Party, the party of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, in a governing coalition. He said that Israel is going through one of the most critical periods for democracy.

Following the election, the right-wing bloc led by Likud won 53 seats, the centrist Yashar alliance, led by Eisenkot, won 48, and the Arab parties won 19. Eisenkot must secure the support of other parties to reach the majority of 61 seats.

Context: Herzog began consultations to designate a candidate and tried to avoid new elections after Netanyahu and Eisenkot were left without a majority

Following the elections on October 27, Israeli President Isaac Herzog initiated consultations with the parliamentary parties to designate a candidate to form the government, while also working to avoid calling new elections. During the discussions, Netanyahu called for the formation of a “national unity government,” warning against a “hasty investiture” alongside supporters of “terrorists,” while Eisenkot stated that he was willing to cooperate with Arab-Israeli parties, but under certain conditions, demanding recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization that must be destroyed.

Before the official mandate, Eisenkot was also proposed by the opposition leadership, and, following the consultations, Herzog gave him the first chance to form the coalition: the former army chief received the recommendation of 67 of the Knesset’s 120 members, compared with 46 for Netanyahu. The official ceremony entrusting him with the mandate was scheduled for Sunday, November 8, at 17:00, and Eisenkot was to have 28 days to form the coalition, with a possible 14-day extension.