Israeli President Isaac Herzog chose Gadi Eisenkot on Saturday to attempt to form a new government following a deadlocked election that left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition without a parliamentary majority. Theglobeandmail reported that the designation places the leader of the Yashar party at the center of protracted negotiations.
Herzog Asks Eisenkot to Form New Government
Netanyahu is fighting to stay in office after his religious-nationalist coalition lost its majority in the October 27 election Theglobeandmail. Although Likud won 27 seats to emerge as the single largest party in the 120-seat Knesset, its bloc garnered only 53 seats, falling short of the 61-seat majority required to govern Theglobeandmail.
Eisenkot’s Yashar party secured 21 seats, while his opposition bloc won 48 seats. During consultations at the President’s Residence, Eisenkot received endorsements from Arab-majority lists that won an unprecedented 19 seats Theglobeandmail, The Guardian.
President Herzog has invited Gadi Eisenkot to the President’s Residence, where he will be tasked with forming the government tomorrow,
said the spokesperson for President Isaac Herzog Theglobeandmail. An official ceremony is scheduled for Sunday in Jerusalem The Guardian.
As a son of Moroccan immigrants, Eisenkot, 66, would become the country’s first prime minister from the Mizrahi community of Jews tracing their roots to North Africa and the Middle East Theglobeandmail. He entered politics only in 2022 after commanding the military during the 2006 conflict with Hezbollah, during which he devised the military strategy known as the Dahiya doctrine targeting civilian infrastructure Theglobeandmail, The Guardian.
Eisenkot Calls for National Emergency Cabinet
Reacting to the announcement on X, Eisenkot addressed the political path ahead The Guardian.
Now is the time to form a national emergency government. I will do everything to ensure we are worthy,
Gadi Eisenkot, Yashar party leader
Eisenkot entered politics in 2022 after serving as military chief of staff from 2015 to 2019 Theglobeandmail, The Guardian. He briefly joined Netanyahu’s wartime cabinet following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, before returning to the opposition, where he rebuked Netanyahu’s management of the Gaza military campaign Theglobeandmail.
Eisenkot has voiced strong opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state while vowing to dismantle Hamas rule and destroy its military wing The Guardian. He has also spoken out against the surge in West Bank settler violence against Palestinians, which has created strains in relations with Western nations, and he opposes Netanyahu’s far-right allies Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, both of whom have faced Western sanctions for inciting violence Theglobeandmail.
Lawmakers Face Strict Government Deadlines
Under Basic Law: The Government, Eisenkot will have 28 days to forge a coalition, with the possibility of a 14-day extension granted by the president The Jerusalem Post.
If Eisenkot fails to secure a majority within the allotted timeframe, another Knesset member can be assigned the task The Jerusalem Post. The entire parliamentary process carries a deadline of approximately 100 days before parliament is dissolved and a new election is triggered Theglobeandmail, The Jerusalem Post.