Jerusalem: Gadi Eisenkot, who has been tasked with forming Israel's next government, is moving to reverse several controversial policies introduced under Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership. His plans include changes to the judicial system and the establishment of an independent investigation into the October 7, 2023, attacks.
Eisenkot's political bloc has introduced legislative proposals seeking to establish a state commission of inquiry into the attacks and reverse several laws that critics say weakened judicial independence. The proposals were submitted following the inauguration of Israel's 26th Knesset on November 10. The new parliament will play an important role in determining the country's political direction and deciding whether the proposed changes can become law.
President Isaac Herzog formally tasked Eisenkot with forming the next government on November 8. The decision followed consultations with political parties after the October 27 general election. Representatives of political factions holding 67 parliamentary seats recommended Eisenkot for the mandate. However, he still faces the difficult task of building a governing majority. His political bloc holds 48 seats, while the alliance led by Netanyahu's Likud party has 53 seats in the 120 seat Knesset. Arab led parties hold the remaining 19 seats. Eisenkot has 28 days to form a government, with the possibility of an extension of up to 14 additional days. Netanyahu remains prime minister while coalition negotiations continue.
One of Eisenkot's main priorities is establishing an independent investigation into the Hamas led attacks of October 7, 2023. On that day, Hamas and other armed groups launched a major assault on southern Israel, killing 1,183 people and taking 251 others hostage. The attack also led to the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The Israeli government has faced growing pressure from families of victims, survivors and opposition politicians to establish an independent investigation into the security failures that allowed the attack to take place.
The proposed commission is intended to investigate the failures surrounding the attack and examine the actions of political leaders, military commanders and security agencies. Its final mandate would depend on the legislation adopted by parliament. Under Israel's existing law, the government decides whether to establish a state commission of inquiry, while the president of the Supreme Court appoints its chairperson and other members. This arrangement is intended to protect the commission's independence from political influence.
However, Netanyahu has opposed this arrangement, arguing that a commission appointed through the Supreme Court could be biased against his government. His government previously pursued an alternative investigation mechanism that would give political representatives a greater role in selecting its members and determining its mandate. The disagreement has become a major political issue. Critics argue that an investigation must be independent of those whose decisions may come under scrutiny.
Eisenkot's bloc has introduced legislation seeking to establish a state commission of inquiry. However, the proposal must pass through parliament before such a commission can be established. The second major area of reform concerns Netanyahu's judicial overhaul, which began in 2023 and triggered widespread protests across Israel.
The reforms sought to change the balance of power between the government, parliament and judiciary. Supporters argued that the judiciary had gained excessive influence, while opponents warned that the changes would weaken democratic checks and balances. In July 2023, the Knesset passed a law restricting the Supreme Court's ability to review government and ministerial decisions using the reasonableness standard. The measure became one of the most controversial parts of the judicial overhaul.
Eisenkot's bloc now wants to reverse several measures affecting the Judicial Selection Committee, the authority of the attorney general, the Department for Internal Police Investigations, media regulation and the rules governing the declaration of a prime minister's incapacity.
The proposed changes are intended to restore judicial oversight and strengthen the independence of institutions responsible for ensuring accountability within the government and security services. On November 11, the bloc moved to establish special parliamentary committees to advance efforts to repeal five controversial laws. The committees are expected to focus on the judicial appointments system, the attorney general's powers, police investigations, media regulation and the rules governing a prime minister's ability to remain in office.
However, the proposals must pass the required parliamentary stages before they can become law. Their introduction does not mean that the existing legislation has already been repealed. Eisenkot served as chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces from 2015 to 2019. He later entered politics and became an important figure in discussions about Israel's security and political future.
Following the October 7 attacks, he joined Netanyahu's emergency government but left in June 2024 alongside Benny Gantz. He subsequently established his own political party, Yashar.
Although Eisenkot has extensive military experience, he was not the military chief of staff when the October 7 attacks took place.
Despite the new legislative proposals, Eisenkot faces significant political challenges in forming a stable government. He needs support from additional lawmakers to reach the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority. The outcome of the coalition negotiations will determine how much of his proposed programme can be implemented. The debate over the October 7 investigation and judicial independence is expected to remain central to Israeli politics. For many Israelis, an independent inquiry is important not only for understanding how the country failed to prevent the attack but also for establishing accountability for the failures.
Whether Eisenkot can turn his promises into lasting institutional changes will depend on his ability to form a government and secure sufficient parliamentary support.