Israel's new government formation starts with Eisenkot

Israeli President Isaac Herzog formally tasked Gadi Eisenkot with forming the next government on Sunday evening. This move follows the October 27 elections, which left the Knesset without a clear majority for either Eisenkot or incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Eisenkot now begins a 28 day window to assemble a governing alliance, with the possibility of a two week extension if he requests it.

Herzog stated that a majority of Knesset members supported giving Eisenkot the initial mandate during their consultations. The former military chief of staff accepted the challenge at a ceremony in the presidential residence in Jerusalem. He pledged to create a government that acts in the public interest and represents all segments of society.

The path to a majority is complicated by the political makeup of the new parliament. Arab led parties gained historic seats in the recent vote. Ra'am, the only Arab party to have joined a governing coalition since 2021, has pledged support for Eisenkot. However, its seat count is insufficient to secure a majority on its own. The Joint List, another major Arab bloc, has offered to support Eisenkot from outside the coalition rather than join it directly.

This external support creates friction. Eisenkot’s more conservative partners, including Yisrael Beytenu, have signaled they will not sit in a cabinet with Arab parties. Eisenkot has established four conditions for coalition partners: recognition of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, acceptance of the declaration of independence, support for universal service, and the designation of Hamas as a terrorist group. It remains unresolved whether Arab allies can accept these terms.

Netanyahu has challenged the validity of the results, claiming the election was stolen by Arab parties. He argues that any alliance with these groups constitutes a betrayal. Despite these claims, Israel’s Central Elections Committee and President Herzog have declared the vote valid. The Shin Bet security agency has opened an investigation into potential foreign interference, but officials say any wrongdoing did not significantly alter the outcome.

Eisenkot faces other difficult choices if he cannot secure enough Arab support. One option is a power sharing arrangement with Netanyahu. Another is an alliance with ultra Orthodox parties. These religious groups are demanding they keep their exemptions from military draft, a policy Eisenkot and his coalition partners campaigned to end. The United Torah Judaism party has indicated it is open to cooperation, positioning itself as a swing vote.

The new Knesset members will be sworn in on Tuesday evening. Netanyahu and his cabinet will remain in office with limited caretaker powers until a new government is formed. If Eisenkot fails to form a coalition within his allotted time, the mandate will pass to Netanyahu. If Netanyahu also fails to build a government, Israel will return to the polls in early spring.

The next government will immediately face ongoing military engagements. Israel continues to fight Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The war against Iran, launched jointly with the United States, also remains unresolved. Herzog urged Eisenkot to leverage his military experience and personal loss of a son in Gaza to unite the nation during these negotiations.