Israel's president gives Gadi Eisenkot, not Benjamin Netanyahu, the first chance to form a government
Eisenkot won more recommendations than Netanyahu, but his own bloc is well short of a majority. He is calling for a national emergency government, and Netanyahu stays prime minister until a new one is sworn in.
Key takeaways
- Herzog handed Eisenkot the mandate at the President's Residence on November 8, 2026, after 67 lawmakers recommended him and 46 backed Netanyahu.
- Eisenkot's alliance holds 48 seats; Netanyahu's bloc holds 53; 61 of 120 are needed.
- Eisenkot has 28 days, extendable by up to 14, to form a government.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog formally gave Gadi Eisenkot the mandate to form the country's next government at a ceremony at the President's Residence on Sunday, November 8, The Jerusalem Post reported. Herzog chose Eisenkot, a former military chief of staff, after 67 members of the Knesset recommended him and 46 recommended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Can Eisenkot reach a majority?
The numbers are difficult. The October 27 election left Eisenkot's four-party alliance with 48 seats and Netanyahu's right-wing and religious bloc with 53, while Arab-led parties won a record 19, Al Jazeera reported. A government needs 61 of the Knesset's 120 seats. The two Arab-led lists, Ra'am and the Joint List, recommended Eisenkot, but that does not commit them to joining him, and Eisenkot has ruled out governing with them. Al Jazeera said bringing in the ultra-Orthodox parties United Torah Judaism and Shas would give him exactly 61; United Torah Judaism did not recommend any candidate.
At the ceremony, Eisenkot repeated his call for a national emergency government and said "creative and unconventional political steps will be required," according to The Jerusalem Post. He invited every party to accept four principles he has set as conditions for joining. Herzog urged him to build a government that serves the entire public.
What happens next
Eisenkot has 28 days to form a government, and Herzog can extend that by up to 14 days. If he fails, the president can give another lawmaker 28 days with no extension, and if that also fails, a majority of lawmakers can back a candidate for a final 14-day attempt before new elections, The Jerusalem Post reported. Netanyahu remains prime minister in the meantime. He has warned that a government backed by Arab-led parties "will dismantle the state of Israel from within," Al Jazeera reported.
Sources
- The Jerusalem Post, “'Unconventional steps required': Eisenkot vows to form emergency gov't as Herzog bestows mandate,” November 8, 2026
- Al Jazeera, “Israel's president picks Eisenkot over Netanyahu to form next government,” November 7, 2026
Written by Action Global News from the sources above; quotations are attributed to the outlet that published them. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.