Following a week of intense political consultations, Israeli President Isaac Herzog has officially tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot with the challenge of forming a new government.
The decision comes after last week’s election left the Knesset without a clear majority for either Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc or Eisenkot’s centrist coalition. Eisenkot, a former military chief, now has 28 days to secure a governing majority, with the possibility of a 14-day extension.
During the consultation process, Eisenkot received 67 recommendations for the premiership compared to 46 for Netanyahu. While Netanyahu’s Likud party and its allies hold 53 seats, the opposition bloc holds 48, with 19 seats held by Arab-led alliances that have emerged as potential kingmakers.
Despite the mathematical hurdles, Eisenkot has called for a national emergency government, stating, 'Now is the time to form a national emergency government.
I will do everything to ensure we are worthy.' The path to a stable administration remains precarious, as the country faces the same political gridlock that triggered five elections between 2019 and 2022.
President Herzog has urged political factions to prioritize stability over campaign promises, acknowledging that the current reality requires compromise to avoid yet another round of costly and disruptive elections.
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