Israeli President Tasks Gadi Eisenkot with Forming Government After Deadlocked Election
SCMP · 3 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced on Saturday that he has tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming a new government, after last month's deadlocked election left neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor Eisenkot with a clear path to power . Eisenkot, a former military chief, received 67 recommendations from parliament members during consultations this week, significantly more than the 46 who recommended Netanyahu . The president made the formal announcement at his residence, giving Eisenkot 28 days to forge a governing coalition, with a possible 14-day extension . The development marks a potential turning point for Netanyahu, who has been Israel's longest-serving leader and is fighting to stay in office after his religious-nationalist coalition lost its parliamentary majority in the October 27 election . Arab-majority parties, which made historic gains winning 19 seats, have nominated Eisenkot despite his reluctance to formally ally with them, positioning themselves as potential kingmakers in the coalition negotiations .
Key Points
- President Herzog formally tasked Eisenkot with forming a government on Saturday after receiving recommendations from 67 parliamentarians versus 46 for Netanyahu
- Eisenkot has up to 42 days (28 days plus possible 14-day extension) to assemble a governing coalition
- Arab-majority parties won 19 seats in the October 27 election, the largest number ever, and have nominated Eisenkot despite his refusal to formally join them
- Right-wing Israel Beiteinu, part of Eisenkot's opposition bloc, has stated it will not sit in a government relying on Arab party support
- Eisenkot called for a "national emergency government" to address ongoing security challenges stemming from the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks
Why It Matters
The nomination of Eisenkot represents the most serious challenge to Netanyahu's decade-long grip on power and could reshape Israeli politics at a critical juncture . The outcome will determine whether Israel can form a stable government capable of addressing the prolonged conflict in Gaza and broader regional tensions, or whether the country remains locked in political paralysis . For international observers, the coalition negotiations will test whether Israel's deeply divided political factions can overcome mutual vetoes to govern effectively in wartime .
The nomination of Eisenkot represents the most serious challenge to Netanyahu's decade-long grip on power and could reshape Israeli politics at a critical juncture . The outcome will determine whether Israel can form a stable government capable of addressing the prolonged conflict in Gaza and broader regional tensions, or whether the country remains locked in political paralysis . For international observers, the coalition negotiations will test whether Israel's deeply divided political factions can overcome mutual vetoes to govern effectively in wartime .