Israel is in danger of change! Natanyahu's strongest opponent is invited to form a cabinet, and the former chief of staff challenges the prime ministership

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu (left) and Eisenkot (right), leader of the Yashar Party and former Chief of Staff of the Defense Forces. (Reuters file photo)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in danger of losing his position as prime minister! After the parliamentary election, the right-wing religious camp led by Netanyahu failed to obtain a majority of the seats. President Isaac Herzog decided to leave it to his biggest rival, Yashar party leader and former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, to form a new government. If Eisenko successfully forms a cabinet, he will replace Netanyahu as prime minister.

The British "Guardian" reported that after Israel held a parliamentary election on October 27, the Natanyahu camp won 53 seats, still the largest camp in the parliament; the opposition camp led by Eisenkot won 48 seats, and neither party reached the majority threshold of 61 seats in the 120-seat parliament. Eisenkot received support from two Arab parties during the presidential negotiations, but it remains unclear whether his camp is willing to accept these parties' assistance in forming a cabinet.

Must gather 61 seats within 28 days. Failure to form a government may lead to another general election

Eisenkot posted on the social platform X: "Now is the time to form a national emergency government. I will do everything possible to ensure that we live up to our mission."

Eisenkot served as the chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces from 2015 to 2019 and commanded the Israeli army during the 2006 Lebanon War. He proposed a combat thinking later known as the "Dahiya doctrine" and advocated large-scale force attacks on civilian infrastructure in areas controlled by Hezbollah.

Politically speaking, Eisenkot advocates uniting Israeli society, which has been divided by Netanyahu's long-term rule, and promises to fight against extremist settlers who commit violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. However, he opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state and has vowed to end Hamas' rule in Gaza and destroy the organization's military power.

According to Israel's cabinet formation procedures, Eisenkot has 28 days after being formally appointed to win the support of at least 61 seats to form a coalition government; if the target is not met, the president can extend the period for another 14 days. If the government is still unable to be formed, the president must hand over the task to other candidates; if all parties are unable to form a government, Israel will hold another congressional election.