Israeli President Isaac Herzog has selected Gadi Eisenkot, a politician opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to attempt to form a government following elections that left no political bloc with enough seats to secure a parliamentary majority.
The decision was announced on November 7, 2026, following the October 27 elections, which left Netanyahu’s coalition without a majority, although it remained the largest political bloc in Parliament.
A spokesperson for Herzog said Eisenkot had been invited to the President’s residence, where he would receive the mandate to form a new government. Eisenkot, a former military chief, has 28 days to form a government, with the possibility of a 14-day extension.
Although he has refused to cooperate with Arab parties, their support could help him secure a parliamentary majority. However, leaders of the Arab parties supported his nomination as the first candidate to attempt to form a government, giving him the backing of most lawmakers.
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Netanyahu’s Coalition Falls Short of Parliamentary Majority
Netanyahu’s Likud Party won 27 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament. His coalition secured 53 seats, falling short of the 61 required to form a majority government.
Meanwhile, Eisenkot’s Yashar Party came second with 21 seats, while his four-party coalition secured 48 seats. Two parties representing Arab voters won a combined 19 seats. Eisenkot faces several options as he attempts to form a government. These include establishing a minority government with support from Arab parties that would remain outside the administration, cooperating with religious hardline Jewish parties, or forming a national unity government with Netanyahu.
However, analysts say all these options present significant challenges. If Eisenkot fails to form a government, another candidate could be given the opportunity. Should that candidate also fail, Parliament may select another person to try. If no candidate succeeds within approximately 100 days, Israel will hold fresh elections.
Eisenkot Could Make History as Israel’s First Mizrahi Prime Minister
At 66, Eisenkot is the son of immigrants from Morocco. If successful, he could become Israel’s first Prime Minister from the Mizrahi Jewish community, whose members trace their origins to the Middle East and North Africa.
He entered politics in 2022 and briefly served in Netanyahu’s government before moving back into the opposition. Eisenkot has repeatedly criticised Netanyahu’s leadership and his handling of the war in Gaza, pledging not to join a government led by him. The political disagreement is also deeply personal for Eisenkot, whose son and the sons of two of his brothers were killed in Gaza.
