Israeli president taps Netanyahu rival to form government as coalition battle looms
Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced Saturday that he has chosen opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to form the country's next government, handing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's chief rival the first opportunity to build a coalition following an inconclusive national election.Herzog announced his decision on Nov.7, but the formal presentation of the mandate is scheduled for Sunday, November 8, at 5 p.m.
Israeli time.Eisenkot will then have 28 days to assemble a government, with a possible 14-day extension.The decision could mark a significant step toward ending Netanyahu’s tenure, but it would also launch a difficult round of coalition negotiations, with deep disagreements among parties seeking to replace him.NETANYAHU DEFIES EXIT POLLS AS VOTE SHIFTS IN HIS FAVOR, BUT MAJORITY REMAINS ELUSIVEGadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar ("Straight") party, waves an Israeli flag onstage following the release of the first exit poll results in Israel's general election in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Oct.
28, 2026.(Ariel Schalit/AP Photo)Following two days of consultations with Israel’s newly elected parliament, Herzog announced Thursday that factions representing 67 of the Knesset’s 120 members had recommended Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party, to form the next government.
Netanyahu received the backing of 46 lawmakers, while seven members of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party declined to endorse either candidate."The results of the consultations may appear clear," Herzog said in his Nov.5 statement, but cautioned that competing political demands and vetoes have left the prospects for forming a government uncertain.The challenge facing Eisenkot is that the 67 endorsements do not translate into a 67-seat governing coalition.In the October 27 election, Netanyahu’s Likud emerged as the largest single party with 27 seats, while his wider political bloc won 53.
The four-party alliance seeking to replace him secured just 48 seats.The remaining endor...