Eisenkot tasked with forming Israeli government, aims to reverse Netanyahu’s policies

Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot has been tasked with forming Israel’s next government and is preparing to reverse key policies of caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. President Isaac Herzog assigned Eisenkot the responsibility on November 8, 2026, two days before the 26th Knesset, Israel’s parliament, was sworn in on November 10, 2026.Eisenkot’s Yashar party has introduced bills to initiate a government investigation into the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, impose term limits on the prime minister, and overturn changes made by the Netanyahu government to limit the judiciary’s powers. Eisenkot has until December 6, 2026, to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension.The parliamentary elections on October 27, 2026, did not result in a clear majority for any single party. To form a government in the 120-seat Knesset, a majority of 61 seats is required. Netanyahu’s Likud party emerged as the largest with 27 seats, but his coalition secured only 53 seats. Eisenkot’s opposition bloc holds 48 seats, while Arab-led parties have 19 seats.Eisenkot will need the support of Arab-led parties to form a government, though it is uncertain if he will succeed, as some members of his coalition have rejected such an alliance.Caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has attempted to undermine the election results, repeating unsubstantiated claims that Arab-led parties “stole” the election. Netanyahu also criticized Arab politicians as “terrorist supporters” in a speech to the Knesset. Eisenkot called Netanyahu’s speech “misleading, divisive, full of hatred and shameful,” stating it was unsuitable for a prime minister. Netanyahu has also called on Eisenkot to join him in forming a national unity government and has opposed a formal investigation into the security failures of the October 7 attack.