Jerusalem: Israel is facing continued political uncertainty after opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot received recommendations from political factions representing 67 lawmakers, compared with 46 who recommended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as negotiations over the formation of the next government remain complicated by divisions among political parties.
President Isaac Herzog announced on Thursday, November 5, that he would designate a candidate to form the next government on Sunday, November 8, following consultations with representatives of all political groups elected to the Knesset, Israel's parliament.
Although Eisenkot has gained a clear advantage in the presidential consultations, his chances of forming a government remain uncertain. Disagreements over cooperation with Arab political parties have created difficulties for the opposition, while Netanyahu is also facing divisions within his traditional political camp.
The October 27 parliamentary election failed to give any political grouping the 61 seats required to secure a majority in the 120 member Knesset. Netanyahu's right wing and religious bloc holds 53 seats, while the opposition grouping has 48. Arab led parties collectively hold another 19 seats.
The opposition grouping includes parties with different political positions, making agreement on a common governing arrangement difficult. Although Eisenkot has received recommendations representing 67 lawmakers, this does not mean that he has secured their commitment to support a future government.
Two Arab political groupings, Ra'am and the Joint List, have recommended Eisenkot. Ra'am, led by Mansour Abbas, holds eight seats, while the Joint List, led by Yousef Jabareen, has 11.
Their recommendations have strengthened Eisenkot's position in the presidential consultations. However, the possibility of their participation in a government remains uncertain, particularly because of disagreements over Israel's political identity, military service and the position of Hamas.
Both Eisenkot and Netanyahu have ruled out including the Arab led parties in their governing coalitions. However, parliamentary support from outside a government remains a possible route for political cooperation.
A major obstacle to Eisenkot's efforts is opposition from Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, which holds seven seats. Lieberman has rejected any governing arrangement that depends on support from Arab parties, citing disagreements over statements and political positions taken by individual Arab lawmakers, particularly concerning Hamas and the October 7 attacks.
Eisenkot has established conditions for potential coalition partners, including recognition of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, commitment to its national principles, support for compulsory military or civilian service and recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organisation. He has also called for the dismantling of Hamas's military capabilities and an end to its rule in Gaza.
These conditions have complicated discussions with the Arab political groupings, particularly over the language used to describe Hamas.
Some Joint List representatives have expressed willingness to support efforts to replace Netanyahu without agreeing to all of Eisenkot's conditions. Senior Joint List lawmaker Ahmad Tibi has indicated that parliamentary support or abstention could help bring about a change of government without requiring the party to join the governing coalition.
The Joint List has also maintained that it condemned the October 7, 2023, massacre in Israeli communities bordering Gaza. However, the disagreement over formally describing Hamas as a terrorist organisation remains an important obstacle to cooperation.
Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas has taken a more flexible position, indicating that Eisenkot's conditions do not necessarily prevent an agreement. The different approaches of the two Arab political groupings highlight the challenges of turning their combined parliamentary strength into a stable governing arrangement.
Netanyahu has also suffered a setback within his traditional political camp. The ultra Orthodox party United Torah Judaism, which holds seven seats, declined to recommend him during the presidential consultations on November 5.
The disagreement is linked to disputes over exemptions from compulsory military service for ultra Orthodox Jewish men. The issue has created growing tensions between Netanyahu and religious parties that have traditionally supported his governments.
However, United Torah Judaism's decision not to recommend Netanyahu does not automatically mean that it has formally withdrawn its support from his wider political bloc.
The election has also been accompanied by controversy over allegations of irregularities and possible foreign interference. Netanyahu and some of his political allies questioned aspects of the election outcome, including the performance of Arab political parties.
However, Israel's Central Elections Committee said the integrity of the election had not been compromised and found no evidence of irregularities that affected the results. A separate investigation into alleged foreign interference remained ongoing.
President Herzog has also condemned racist statements directed at Arab Israeli voters and warned against attempts to undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
Under Israel's government formation system, the candidate selected by the president normally receives 28 days to assemble a government. The president can grant an additional 14 days if more time is required.
If the selected candidate fails to secure sufficient support, another candidate may be given an opportunity to form a government. If political parties cannot reach an agreement through the available procedures, the country could eventually face another parliamentary election.
The newly elected Knesset is scheduled to be sworn in on November 10, adding pressure on political leaders to reach an agreement. Netanyahu will remain prime minister in a caretaker capacity until a new government is formed and takes office.
Eisenkot's strong performance in the presidential consultations has given the opposition an important political advantage, but the divisions over Arab party cooperation and the conditions for forming a government continue to complicate negotiations.
Herzog's announcement on Sunday is expected to provide the next indication of Israel's political direction. However, the country still lacks a clear path to a stable governing coalition as rival political groups struggle to reach an agreement.