Israel's President Tasks Gadi Eisenkot With Forming Government

Israeli President Isaac Herzog handed opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot the mandate to form the next government on Saturday night. This decision follows the October 27 election where neither Eisenkot nor incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured a parliamentary majority. Representatives from most of Israel's main parties recommended Eisenkot during marathon discussions with the president this week. Herzog's move starts a six-week clock for coalition formation, with the country facing its sixth election cycle in four years.

Eisenkot's path to a coalition

Eisenkot, a former military chief who founded the centrist Yashar party, must now handle a fragmented 120-seat Knesset. His bloc of four main Jewish opposition parties holds 48 seats. Netanyahu's Likud party and its allies won 53 seats. Eisenkot received 67 recommendations for the premiership from lawmakers, while Netanyahu received 46. The historic gains by Arab-led parties, which together won 19 seats following a surge in Arab voter turnout, make them potential kingmakers.

Arab parties as potential kingmakers

The two largest Arab parties have said they would be willing to help Eisenkot oust Netanyahu. An Arab party has been part of a governing coalition just once in Israel's history. Most Jewish-led parties opposing Netanyahu, however, vowed before the election not to rely on Arab party support. Both Eisenkot and Netanyahu have publicly ruled out working with Arab-led parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel, who make up about 20% of the population. Eisenkot has indicated a willingness to partner with them under certain conditions, including calling Hamas a terrorist group that needs to be destroyed.

Netanyahu's stance and the road ahead

Netanyahu, who remains caretaker prime minister, has campaigned vigorously to head off any alliance between Eisenkot and Arab-led parties. He called for a 'national unity government' and warned against hastily swearing in a government with 'terrorist supporters,' referring to Arab-led parties. In a video statement, he warned against partnering with what he called Hamas supporters and 'those who oppose Judaism.' Netanyahu and his allies have repeatedly portrayed the Arab-led parties as a threat to national security, including making unsubstantiated claims that they 'stole' the elections. Eisenkot's party criticized Netanyahu's video statement. Gadi Eisenkot said: "Netanyahu's video hysterical." His party urged Likud members to disavow alliance with 'radical parties.'

President Herzog stated that preventing another round of elections and building a stable government required factions to understand that not every commitment and promise can be fulfilled. If Eisenkot fails to form a coalition within 28 days, with a potential 14-day extension, the president could ask someone else to try, potentially Netanyahu. Failure then could trigger another election. The next prime minister will also face the task of rebuilding relations with the United States, especially with Democrats, after criticism of Israel emerged as a talking point in some U.S. campaigns. Eisenkot has 28 days to form a new administration, with a potential 14-day extension.