Israeli President Isaac Herzog will formally task Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar Party, with forming a new government today, Sunday, November 8, 2026. This decision follows the October 27 election, in which no party or coalition secured a clear majority.
President Herzog chose Eisenkot on Saturday after consultations revealed he had the support of 67 members of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. Benjamin Netanyahu, the caretaker Prime Minister, received support from only 46 lawmakers. Eisenkot will have 28 days to form a government, with a possible extension of 14 days if needed.
In the October 27 election, Netanyahu’s Likud Party emerged as the largest single party with 27 seats in the 120-member Knesset. However, his religious and nationalist bloc secured only 53 seats, falling short of the 61 seats required to form a government. Eisenkot’s Yashar Party won 21 seats, and his coalition of four Jewish-led parties collectively garnered 48 seats. Two parties representing Israel’s Arab community achieved a historic 19 seats.
Netanyahu has claimed that the election was rigged, but Dean Livne, acting director-general of Israel’s Central Elections Committee, stated that there is no basis for claims of systematic interference in the election’s integrity. The election saw a 77.9% voter turnout, the highest in decades.
Eisenkot, a 66-year-old former military chief who entered politics in 2022, aims to form a national emergency government as quickly as possible. He briefly served in Netanyahu’s wartime cabinet after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel before returning to the opposition. His son and two nephews were killed during Israeli military operations in Gaza. Eisenkot has also been critical of violence by Jewish settlers expanding Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories and has disagreements with extremist leaders Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich from Netanyahu’s coalition.
Forming a government presents significant challenges for Eisenkot. While he has received support from Arab parties, he has refused to include them in his government. He has set conditions for government participation, including acceptance of a Jewish, democratic, liberal, and egalitarian state, commitment to the values of the Declaration of Independence, mandatory military or national service for all citizens, and recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization. These conditions limit the possibility of Arab parties joining the government, although they could offer external support.
Divisions within Eisenkot’s own bloc also pose hurdles. Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has stated he will not support a minority government backed by Arab parties, arguing it would be short-lived and ultimately return Netanyahu to power. Lieberman has proposed an alternative of forming a government with the ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties Shas and United Torah Judaism to secure 61 seats. However, these parties advocate for laws exempting Jewish men from mandatory military service, which conflicts with Eisenkot’s commitment to mandatory service for all citizens.
Another option is a national unity government with Netanyahu, but Eisenkot has refused to serve in a government led by Netanyahu, criticizing his management of the Gaza military campaign and the government’s performance. Netanyahu, on the other hand, has called for a national unity government involving all Jewish parties. He warned in a video message on Saturday that a minority government supported by Arab parties would jeopardize Israel’s existence. Eisenkot’s Yashar Party has rejected Netanyahu’s proposal, suggesting instead that the Likud Party break its alliance with extremist parties and join a government under Eisenkot’s leadership. Shas Party has dismissed reports of joining an Eisenkot-led coalition as ‘completely fake news’.
If Eisenkot fails to form a government by December 6, or by December 20 with an extension, President Herzog could offer the opportunity to another candidate, including Netanyahu. If all attempts to form an alternative government fail, the Knesset could be dissolved, leading to another election. Netanyahu will remain as caretaker Prime Minister until a new government is formed.
Background
- Benjamin Netanyahu has served as Israel's Prime Minister from 1996 to 1999, 2009 to 2021, and 2022 to the present, making him Israel's longest-serving Prime Minister.
What happens next
Gadi Eisenkot has 28 days to form a government, with a deadline of December 6, which can be extended by 14 days to December 20.
