Jerusalem: Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot has begun efforts to form the country's next government after receiving an official mandate from President Isaac Herzog, but political divisions and competing demands from potential coalition partners could make the task difficult.
Eisenkot formally received the mandate on November 8 at the President's Residence in Jerusalem. He now has 28 days to form a government, with the possibility of an extension of up to 14 additional days.
His appointment marks a significant challenge to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose Likud party remains the largest individual party in parliament but whose political alliance failed to secure a majority in the October 27 election.
The election results left Israel's 120 seat Knesset without a clear governing majority. Likud won 27 seats, while Eisenkot's Yashar party secured 21. Netanyahu's wider political bloc holds 53 seats, compared with 48 held by the opposition grouping led by Eisenkot. Arab led parties secured another 19 seats.
At least 61 members of the Knesset are needed to secure a parliamentary majority. During consultations with President Herzog, 67 lawmakers recommended Eisenkot as the candidate best placed to form a government, compared with 46 who supported Netanyahu. Another seven lawmakers did not recommend either candidate.
Eisenkot has called for the formation of a national emergency government, saying Israel is facing serious challenges that require political cooperation and difficult compromises. He has said that no political party will be able to achieve all its election promises and that the next government must focus on the country's most urgent needs.
Several political options are available to Eisenkot, but each presents difficulties. One possibility is to secure support from Arab led parties, which could provide enough parliamentary backing for a government without Netanyahu. However, some of Eisenkot's existing partners oppose depending on these parties for parliamentary support.
The Joint List, which holds 11 seats, has offered to support an Eisenkot led government from outside the cabinet. Ra'am, which has eight seats, has also indicated its willingness to cooperate, although disagreements over political and security conditions remain.
Another possibility involves cooperation with ultra Orthodox parties, particularly United Torah Judaism and Shas, which hold seven and six seats respectively. Together, they could provide the 13 additional seats needed to bring Eisenkot's existing grouping to the 61 required for a majority.
However, negotiations with these parties could prove difficult because of disagreements over compulsory military service. Eisenkot has campaigned for an end to exemptions that allow many ultra Orthodox men to avoid military service, while the religious parties want to protect these arrangements.
Recent political discussions have also raised the possibility that Shas could consider supporting an Eisenkot led government, although no agreement has been announced. Such an arrangement would depend on negotiations over the military service dispute and the positions of other coalition partners.
Eisenkot has also invited members of Netanyahu's Likud party and the Religious Zionism party to consider joining his proposed government. However, this does not mean that Netanyahu has agreed to a power sharing arrangement. Eisenkot has pledged to replace the current prime minister, while Netanyahu has called for a broad unity government without indicating that he is prepared to step aside.
Eisenkot, a former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, has been a prominent critic of Netanyahu's handling of the Gaza war and the security failures surrounding the Hamas led attacks of October 7, 2023. He has also called for greater accountability over the failures that preceded the attacks.
The political negotiations are taking place as Israel continues to face security challenges involving Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and tensions with Iran. The next government will also have to address questions about the future administration of Gaza, national security and Israel's international relations.
If Eisenkot fails to form a government within the permitted period, Netanyahu could receive another opportunity to secure parliamentary support. If further attempts also fail, Israel could face another election under the country's constitutional procedures.
For now, Eisenkot faces the difficult task of bringing together political parties with sharply different positions. His ability to secure their support will determine whether Israel enters a new political chapter or remains under Netanyahu's leadership.