Eisenkot has 28 days to form government after Herzog mandate
The former army chief has until late December to secure a Knesset majority, with the first deadline set for Tuesday evening's swearing-in ceremony.
By Simon Bennett ·
Gadi Eisenkot has 28 days to secure a parliamentary majority in Israel's Knesset. President Isaac Herzog formally tasked the opposition leader with forming the next government on Sunday evening. Eisenkot holds the role of former chief of the Israeli army. The mandate follows the October 27 elections, where no single bloc emerged with a clear majority. This development marks a step toward replacing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has served the longest in the country's history.
Herzog convened the ceremony at the presidential residence in Jerusalem. He stated that a majority of Knesset members supported giving Eisenkot the opportunity to form a cabinet. Eisenkot pledged to provide leadership that is trustworthy and representative of all society. He said he intends to work with patience and humility.
The negotiations face immediate hurdles from Arab-led parties. The Ra’am party indicated it will support Eisenkot, though its seat count is too low to guarantee a majority alone. The Joint List, another major Arab-led bloc, offered to support Eisenkot from outside the coalition. This move breaks with decades of precedent. Critics within the Joint List worry that backing a government that does not end wars or curb settlement expansion in the West Bank is controversial.
Eisenkot has outlined four conditions for coalition partners. He requires partners to recognize Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. They must also accept the declaration of independence, support military or civil service for all citizens, and declare Hamas a terrorist group. It is uncertain if Arab-led parties will accept these terms. The Yisrael Beytenu party has already stated it will not join a coalition with Arab-led groups.
Netanyahu continues to assert that the election was stolen by Arab parties. He uses this claim as a pressure tactic against Eisenkot. The Shin Bet security agency has opened an investigation into possible foreign interference. The Central Elections Committee and President Herzog maintain that the vote was valid. They note that even if wrongdoing is found, it did not impact the final electoral results.
If Eisenkot cannot secure the support of Arab-led parties, he faces two other options. One is a power-sharing agreement with Netanyahu. The other involves an alliance with ultra-Orthodox parties. These religious parties demand that they retain exemptions from military service. Eisenkot and his partners campaigned to end these exemptions during the past three years of war. The United Torah Judaism party has left the door open for cooperation as a swing vote.
Eisenkot has appealed to Netanyahu’s Likud Party and the far-right party of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to join his government. He described his hand as extended to anyone who understands the gravity of the moment. The new Knesset members will be sworn in on Tuesday evening. Until a coalition is formed, Netanyahu and his cabinet will remain in office in a caretaker capacity with limited powers.
If Eisenkot fails to form a government within 28 days, he may receive a two-week extension. If he also fails, Netanyahu will receive a chance to form a coalition. If Netanyahu fails, new elections will be held early next spring. These political negotiations unfold against ongoing military conflicts. Israel continues to fight Hamas militants in Gaza and Iran-aligned Hezbollah forces in Lebanon. Israeli troops occupy parts of the south of Lebanon. The war launched alongside the United States against Iran shows no signs of ending.
The timeline for the next phase is fixed. Eisenkot must count votes and secure agreements within the statutory limit. The Knesset swearing-in ceremony takes place on Tuesday evening. The caretaker government holds power until that moment. The six-week window begins immediately after the mandate was issued on Sunday evening.
