Israeli President Isaac Herzog told Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot on Saturday, Nov. 7, that he will task him with forming the country’s next government, Herzog’s office said, according to The Guardian and Al Jazeera. The formal handover was scheduled for a ceremony Sunday, Nov. 8, at the president’s residence in Jerusalem, the office said. “Now is the time to form a national emergency government,” Eisenkot wrote on X, The Guardian reported.
Related: Eisenkot Wins 67 MK Nods; Herzog Says Mandate Decision Comes Sunday.
What the mandate gives Eisenkot
Eisenkot will have 28 days to assemble a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension, Al Jazeera and The Guardian reported. A majority is 61 of the Knesset’s 120 seats.
He could also form a government with fewer than 61 seats if it wins a confidence vote, Al Jazeera reported. Israeli law requires only a simple majority to establish a government, CNN reported. Removing a government requires 61 votes for an alternative, according to CNN.
If Eisenkot fails, Herzog will nominate another candidate, Al Jazeera reported. If that attempt fails, a parliamentary majority can back a third candidate for a final 14 days, the outlet said. A new election would follow within 90 days if no government emerges, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu staying on as caretaker, Al Jazeera reported. Herzog’s decision does not automatically remove Netanyahu from power, CNN said.
The seat arithmetic
Parties with 67 members of the incoming Knesset recommended Eisenkot, including 19 from the two Arab parties, CNN reported. Netanyahu received 46 recommendations. United Torah Judaism, a traditional Netanyahu ally, declined to recommend him, CNN said.
In the Oct. 27 election, Eisenkot’s four-party alliance won 48 seats and Netanyahu’s bloc won 53, Al Jazeera and The Guardian reported. Eisenkot is seeking to swear in a minority government of the four Jewish opposition parties as soon as possible, according to CNN.
He has set four conditions for partners, CNN reported, including recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization. CNN said that condition effectively rules out the Arab parties from sitting in the Cabinet, though they could support the government from outside. Winning over United Torah Judaism and Shas would give Eisenkot exactly 61 seats, Al Jazeera reported.
Ahmad Tibi, a senior Joint List member, told Al Jazeera he expected a minority government “with external support from the Arab parties.”
Netanyahu’s response
Netanyahu said Saturday evening that “this is a time for unity,” Ynet reported. He called for a national unity government that includes all the parties of the national camp and all Zionist parties that want to protect the country, according to Ynet.
Netanyahu said some intended to swear in a government “with supporters of terrorism” in the coming week, Ynet reported. Yashar said Likud and its partners were welcome to join only if they broke with what it called extremists and accepted a government under Eisenkot, according to Ynet.
Who Eisenkot is
Eisenkot, 66, served as Israel’s military chief of staff from 2015 to 2019, The Guardian reported. He sat as an observer in Netanyahu’s war cabinet for the first eight months of the Gaza war, according to Al Jazeera.
He opposes the creation of a Palestinian state and has vowed to end Hamas’s rule in Gaza, The Guardian reported. He has also vowed to crack down on extremist West Bank settlers, the newspaper said.
What happens next
The 28-day clock begins with Sunday’s formal appointment. Israel held five elections between 2019 and 2022 because of repeated deadlocks, The Guardian reported. For more coverage, see the Middle East news hub and the World News section.
Sources
- The Guardian: Israel’s president picks Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot to form government
- Al Jazeera: Israel’s president picks Eisenkot over Netanyahu to form next government
- CNN: In setback to Netanyahu, rival Eisenkot to be tasked with forming next Israeli government
- Ynet: ‘This is a time for unity’: Netanyahu renews coalition appeal as Eisenkot courts Haredi parties
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