The Israeli Presidential Office noted that President Herzog invited Yashar Party leader Gadi Eisenkot to the Office on Sunday, November 8, at 17:00 local time, to give him the authority to form a government.
It was recalled that in the consultation meetings held by Herzog, 67 of the 120 deputies who were entitled to enter the Israeli Parliament as a result of the elections recommended that the opposition leader Eisenkot give the authority to form a government. The office reminded that current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was able to receive the support of 46 MPs.
In the Office's statement, in which it was announced that Herzog had a meeting with Eisenkot and declared his intention to give the authority to form a government to the opposition, it was stated that in accordance with the "Basic Law", Eisenkot will have 28 days to form a government after receiving the authority, and if necessary, he will be given an additional period of 14 days.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog
'NETANYAHU IS AFRAID'
Netanyahu called for a unity government on Saturday, arguing that an Arab-backed opposition coalition would threaten Israel's future and security.
In his post on the X platform, Democrats Party leader Yair Golan responded to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's call for the opposition to "form a unity government". Commenting on Herzog's announcement that he intends to give the authority to form the government to Eisenkot, Golan stated that Netanyahu "cannot be part of fixing Israel."
According to the Jerusalem Post, Golan stated that Israel needs leadership, responsibility and a government of real change, and said:
"Netanyahu understands that his work is done this time. He sees a change government taking shape and he is afraid. After years of provoking people, dividing people, pitting them against each other, and trying to delegitimize the change bloc, he suddenly remembers unity. Netanyahu has ruined everything."
Democratic Party leader Yair Golan
YASHAR REJECTS NETANYAHU'S CALL
Yashar Party rejected Netanyahu's call for a national unity government, calling it a "hysterical speech". The party accused Netanyahu of systematically undermining unity in Israeli society.
In the statement made by Yashar, it was said, "The man who divides, fragments and provokes the Israeli society only uses the word 'unity' when he realizes that his term of office is about to end."
Yashar stated that Eisenkot's planned national emergency government "will include only those parties and Knesset members that support Yashar's four principles, which include recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization."
Yashar Party leader Gadi Eisenkot
WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT THE DUTY OF FORMING THE GOVERNMENT WAS GIVEN TO EISENKOT?
Yashar Party leader Gadi Eisenkot received the mandate from Israeli President Isaac Herzog to form the new government. However, this does not mean that Eisenkot will definitely succeed in his quest to become prime minister.
Yashar's Party won the most seats (21) among parties not allied with Netanyahu in last month's elections. However, neither the prime minister's bloc nor the opposition could reach the minimum number of 61 seats needed to form a government majority.
Israeli President Herzog will announce today who will be given first priority in forming a coalition. Towards the end of this week, Eisenkot announced that 67 MPs supported giving him the authority to form a government, compared to 46 MPs who supported Netanyahu.
NEW ELECTION POSSIBILITY
Eisenkot leads four Zionist parties that form Israel's so-called change bloc, united by the goal of overthrowing Netanyahu. Together, they have 48 seats in the new parliament (Knesset); This means they need at least 13 more seats to reach 61 of the 120 Knesset seats. Eisenkot has 28 days to form the new government after being given the authority by Herzog. If the President of Israel allows, there will be another 14-day extension. If Eisenkot fails, another candidate may have a chance to form a coalition or a new election may be on the agenda.
Sixty-seven lawmakers supported Herzog giving power to Eisenkot. But this support is not the same as voting for him to actually come to power.
IS AN 'UNEXPECTED ALLIANCE' POSSIBLE?
The first option, which has gained more and more support in the days since the election, is for Eisenkot to cooperate with the ultra-Orthodox parties. These parties have a long-standing alliance with Netanyahu but have served in governments with center- and left-wing leaders in the past.
There are several signs that such an alliance is already taking shape. First, United Torah Judaism, one of the two Haredi Orthodox parties in the Knesset, informed Herzog that it would not support either candidate for prime minister; This means breaking away from the alliance with Netanyahu.
If the United Torah Judaism Party, which has 7 seats in the parliament, shifts its support from Netanyahu's coalition to the change bloc, Eisenkot could gain a majority, provided that Arab parties at least abstain.
CONCONCILIATION MESSAGE FROM LIEBERMAN
Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, a member of the change bloc, signaled that an alliance with the Haredis is possible. Lieberman has been known for his harsh opposition to Haredi parties in Israeli politics for years. In a post on X on Friday, Lieberman stated that he was open to cooperation with Haredi parties to find someone to replace Netanyahu.
Stating that politicians should "show flexibility and reach compromises," Lieberman said, "The election results require us all to rethink our approach and accept that there are no good alternatives or magic solutions before us."
Other leaders of the change bloc used much vaguer statements, arguing that Netanyahu should be replaced by someone, but did not specify how they planned to do this.
Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party
EISENKOT'S CALL FOR NATIONAL EMERGENCY GOVERNMENT
Eisenkot, who made a statement together with the four parties that make up the opposition bloc after the elections, said, "In recent days, I have been advancing the plan to establish a national emergency government with my partners."
"The logic behind this is to quickly form a government based on the four Zionist parties of change and renewal, and to ensure that any party or Knesset member who agrees with my four basic principles immediately or gradually joins the alliance," Eisenkot said.
