The end of the Netanyahu era? Israeli opposition parties appointed to form government

According to news released by the office of President Isaac Herzog, Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the currently opposition centrist political party "Yashar", was invited to the presidential palace in Jerusalem on the afternoon of November 8. Previously, the president held consultations with various factions in the new parliament after the election, and multiple political parties representing 67 of the 120 seats suggested that Eisenkot should lead the formation of a new government.

Forming a government is expected to be extremely difficult and complex. In the parliamentary election held on October 27, neither the current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition nor Eisenkot’s opposition camp obtained the majority of seats (61 seats) required to form a government.

Eisenkot was once the chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces. Although the "anti-Netanyahu" camp he represents holds a centrist political stance, it has recently shown potential signs of wooing the ultra-Orthodox (Ultra-Orthodox). The latter was once a governing ally of current Prime Minister Netanyahu. The centrists and the religious ultra-Orthodox can join forces to achieve the majority of seats needed to govern, but whether religious ultra-Orthodox students are obliged to perform military service will be a major friction point between the two sides.

Eisenkot's camp has previously refused to cooperate with Arab parties. However, during the consultations, several politicians in the latter expressed support for Eisenkot. The cooperation between these two camps can also achieve a majority of seats.

Netanyahu "joins if he can't beat him"?

Not long ago, the current Prime Minister Netanyahu recorded a video calling on the opposition parties to form a "national unity government", but it was not clear who should lead such a coalition government. In the video, Netanyahu also warned opposition parties against forming a cabinet that relied on the support of two Arab parties, arguing that this would allow Israel to be "destroyed from within."

Eisenkot posted on the social media platform X (Twitter), refuting Netanyahu's remarks as a "cheap PR show." Eisenkot believes that it was Netanyahu himself who divided Israeli society and sowed the seeds of discord; now, when he realizes that his time in power is numbered, he is talking about "unity" again. Eisenkot also added that Netanyahu has never fulfilled any of the agreements he signed with his political partners; if Netanyahu's Likud party and its allies were really interested in "unity" and forming a broad-based government, then they could publicly declare their break with the extremists and show their willingness to join a new government led by Eisenkot.

Eisenkot, 66, now has 28 days to form a coalition government, with the option to apply for a 14-day extension. If this attempt fails, the president will appoint another member to form a cabinet for the same period of 28 days.