Eisenkot Launches 28-Day Bid to Form Government

Israel’s political system operates on a tight schedule after elections fail to produce a clear winner, forcing the president to task a candidate with the heavy lifting of coalition building.

Gadi Eisenkot, the country’s former military chief of staff, formally accepted that mandate on Sunday. He now has 28 days to secure a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.

Eisenkot, 66, leads the Yashar party and positioned his run as a response to what he called a historic crisis. He told President Isaac Herzog that Israel faces a point of no return. Eisenkot appeared in a suit and tie, a departure from his usual all-black attire, and described the national state as an emergency requiring unconventional political steps.

The former prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, leads the opposing camp. Eisenkot invited Netanyahu’s Likud party to join his government, with Eisenkot serving as prime minister. He also extended an invitation to the far-right party of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Eisenkot said his door was open to anyone who understood the gravity of the moment. Success would end Netanyahu’s record as Israel’s longest-serving premier.

Eisenkot’s bloc holds 48 seats, while Netanyahu’s camp holds 53. Neither side commands a majority. Eisenkot secured endorsements from two Arab-majority lists during his consultations with Herzog. These parties made large gains in the October elections and now hold the balance of power. Eisenkot set conditions for their participation, including the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state and the designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization. His coalition partner, the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has stated it will not sit with Arab-led parties.

Eisenkot campaigned on equal military service. He seeks to end the draft exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox community. He also promised to target extremist West Bank settlers who attack Palestinians. He described recent incidents as Jewish terror abetted by Netanyahu’s government. Eisenkot opposes a Palestinian state but vowed to end Hamas rule in Gaza and destroy its military wing.

Netanyahu has alleged the election was stolen by Arab parties, citing high voter turnout. He has offered little evidence to support this claim. The Shin Bet security agency opened an investigation into possible foreign interference. The Central Elections Committee and Herzog maintain the result is valid. Netanyahu proposed a national unity government on Saturday night. It remains unclear if the two rivals can agree on a power-sharing model, a structure that has often proven fragile.

Both Eisenkot and Herzog pointed to Israel’s deepening international isolation. Netanyahu is wanted by the International Criminal Court. In the United States, Democrats swept the midterm elections on Tuesday. Many called for a reassessment of the alliance following the devastation in Gaza and the Iran war launched by Netanyahu alongside Donald Trump. Eisenkot called the situation a devastating diplomatic crisis.

If Eisenkot cannot secure 61 votes within 28 days, Herzog can grant a 14-day extension. If that fails, the mandate goes to another candidate. If no one succeeds, Israel will hold new elections. The country held five elections between 2019 and 2022 due to repeated deadlocks.