The President of Israel Officially Instructed Netanyahu’s Rival to Form a Government

Gadi Eizenkot will have 28 days to form a coalition that would replace the current religious-nationalist government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog officially tasked Gadi Eizenkot with forming the government, DW reports.

Eizenkot, the leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, will have 28 days to form a coalition that would replace the current religious-nationalist government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

However, Herzog has the authority to extend Eizenkot’s mandate by another 14 days.

“Negotiations with various parties have been candid and transparent; they have also allowed many voices within Israeli society to be heard. They reminded us that all citizens of Israel—across all sectors of society—have an equal right to vote,” Herzog noted.

He emphasized that it was Eizenkot who received the most explicit support from the majority of Knesset members on forming a new government. “The challenges we face are enormous. Iran, not wasting a second, continues its threats. We must start building the region’s future, implement Trump’s plan with 20 points regarding Gaza, and also negotiate about the future with Lebanon and other neighbors,” the Israeli president stated.

He added that “Israel needs a stable government capable of meeting these challenges.”

Meanwhile, Eizenkot stressed that he aims to form a national unity government in a state of emergency. “We cannot afford endless electoral cycles. I will approach all Knesset members—from parties as well as individual MPs—with a proposal to hold negotiations,” he added.

Results of the parliamentary elections and what happens next

In the October elections, the Yesh Atid party finished in second place, winning 21 mandates, trailing the Likud party led by Netanyahu, which won 27 seats.

However, the majority of Knesset members voiced support for giving Eizenkot the first opportunity to form a government. Support for Eizenkot came from 67 MPs, while Netanyahu received support from 46 MPs.

Meanwhile, the ultra-Orthodox Ashkenazi party United Torah Judaism decided not to support anyone at all—even though for the last 17 years it had been part of governments led by Netanyahu.

If Eizenkot cannot form a coalition, President Herzog will have the authority to hand the task to another Knesset member. It is expected that the next candidate will be Netanyahu.

If the Likud leader also cannot form a government, and if no other MP can demonstrate enough support to head the government, Israel is most likely heading to another election.

Eizenkot, the former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, is Netanyahu’s main political rival. His bloc opposes cooperation with Arab parties that supported him. At the same time, their support could give him a majority.