Key points

  • Al Jazeera reported that Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot was officially tasked with forming a new government by President Isaac Herzog.
  • Eisenkot stated he is open to including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in his coalition.
  • According to Al Jazeera, Eisenkot has a six-week window to secure a parliamentary majority or a vote of confidence.

According to Al Jazeera, Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot has expressed willingness to include Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a prospective coalition as he officially takes on the task of forming the country's next government. Speaking at a ceremony in Jerusalem, Eisenkot appealed for national unity and suggested that members of Likud and the Religious Zionist Party could support a administration under his leadership.

Key Details

Al Jazeera reported that President Isaac Herzog officially handed the mandate to Eisenkot on November 8, 2026. During the ceremony in Jerusalem, Eisenkot maintained that his coalition would represent all parts of Israeli society while ruling out alliances with Arab-led parties. In the October 27 elections, Eisenkot's four-party alliance secured 48 seats, whereas Netanyahu's bloc won 53 seats, leaving both short of the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority. Meanwhile, Arab-led parties captured a record 19 seats. Al Jazeera noted that Herzog warned of uncertainties stemming from the November 3 United States midterm elections, which saw the rise of political figures critical of Israel and American military backing.

Context and Impact

Eisenkot previously led the Israeli military from 2015 to 2019 and served as an observer in Netanyahu's war cabinet during the initial eight months of the conflict in Gaza that commenced in October 2023. Al Jazeera reported that despite his military background, Arab-led parties endorsed his bid to replace Netanyahu. Analysts cited by Al Jazeera indicate that Netanyahu, currently serving as caretaker prime minister, still holds time to derail Eisenkot's coalition-building efforts and potential vote of confidence.

Summary and What Next

Eisenkot holds a six-week timeframe to navigate coalition talks and secure the necessary backing in parliament. Al Jazeera noted that if Eisenkot fails to form a government, Netanyahu remains the natural second choice to receive the mandate from the president.