Israeli President Isaac Herzog has chosen former military chief Gadi Eisenkot to form the country’s next administration, passing over current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The president’s spokesperson announced on Saturday evening that Herzog informed Eisenkot of the decision and scheduled a formal handover ceremony for Sunday.
The appointment followed consultations with political parties after the October 27 general election ended without either major side securing a parliamentary majority. A total of 67 lawmakers, including representatives from Arab-led parties, threw their support behind Eisenkot, who leads the Yashar party. Only 46 legislators backed Netanyahu.
Eisenkot has 28 days to construct a coalition capable of reaching the minimum threshold of 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset, with a potential 14-day extension available if needed. During the October vote, Eisenkot’s four-party alliance captured 48 seats, while Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious bloc secured 53 seats. Arab-led parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel achieved a record 19 seats.
Eisenkot has previously ruled out building a government alongside the Arab-led parties. Securing the backing of the two ultra-Orthodox factions, Shas and United Torah Judaism, would provide him with exactly 61 seats. Alternatively, he could establish a minority administration if he successfully wins a parliamentary confidence vote.
Ahmad Tibi, a senior member of the Joint List coalition holding 11 seats, described the presidential choice as expected. Speaking on Saturday, Tibi expressed concern that Herzog might have pushed for a national unity government. Instead, the Arab-led parties endorsed Eisenkot to build a margin and remove Netanyahu from power.
Tibi stated that Eisenkot appears to be moving toward a minority government backed externally by Arab lawmakers. While acknowledging this is not an ideal scenario for his coalition, Tibi emphasized that their primary goal is dismantling the administration led by Netanyahu alongside far-right figures Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
Hours before the announcement, Netanyahu released a prerecorded video warning that an opposition government relying on Arab support would cause the state to collapse. Netanyahu claimed such an administration would dismantle Israel from within. Tibi dismissed the remarks and condemned Netanyahu’s rhetoric.
If Eisenkot fails to build a coalition within the allotted timeframe, Herzog will nominate a second candidate. Should that attempt also fail, a parliamentary majority can back a third candidate for a final 14-day window. A new election will be called within 90 days if no government emerges, leaving Netanyahu in place as caretaker prime minister.
Eisenkot commanded the Israeli military from 2015 to 2019 and served as an observer in Netanyahu’s war cabinet during the initial eight months of the war on Gaza, which started in October 2023.
