New government race in Israel

Following the controversial elections in Israel, President Isaac Herzog announced that he would give the post to Yashar Party leader Eisenkot, who came second in the elections, and this time the race to form a government began.

Yashar Party leader Gadi Eisenkot officially received the authority to form the government from President Isaac Herzog at a ceremony held at the Presidential Residence yesterday. During the meetings, 67 MPs suggested Eisenkot to form the government, and 46 MPs suggested current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The opposition bloc, which aims to replace Prime Minister Netanyahu and remove him from the government, continues its efforts to find coalition partners. Eisenkot will have 28 days to form a government.

The search has begun

In Herzog's consultations last week with representatives of all parties that will serve in the new Israeli Parliament (Knesset), Eisenkot received support from a significant part of the opposition parties. As a matter of fact, Eisenkot received support from the Israeli Arab parties Ra'am and the Joint List. However, the recommendations of these parties do not mean that they will join Eisenkot's coalition.

However, the situation of Netanyahu's long-time coalition partner, the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party, which won 6 seats, is uncertain. In fact, the Alliance for Torah Judaism refused to make a recommendation for Netanyahu to form a new government during consultations with President Herzog on Thursday. However, the party did not announce support for the opposition Eisenkot.

Arab support

While opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot said in his X post, "There are many things going on behind the scenes... We have made significant progress and overcome some obstacles; all this happened quietly and modestly," while leftist leader Yair Golan from the opposition bloc also drew attention to the progress made.

While Arab parties say they will support the anti-Netanyahu bloc "without coalition bargaining", Netanyahu and the parties that support him are trying to prevent this. Far-right Ben-Gvir claims that the opposition will "betray its voters" if it forms a coalition with the Arabs.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu openly called for a unity government on Saturday for the first time since the elections. Netanyahu also claimed that a government formed by the opposition together with the "Islamists" would not be able to "keep Israel afloat" and would "destroy Israel from within."

They wanted an anti-Netanyahu government

Hundreds of people demonstrated in different parts of Israel, demanding the establishment of a new government that would end the rule of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and include Arab parties. According to Haaretz newspaper, approximately 300 people in the Jezreel Valley demanded the formation of a government that would include Arab parties. According to The Times of Israel newspaper, hundreds of people gathered in Habima Square in the center of Tel Aviv and protested to demand the formation of a government that includes Arab parties and will end the Netanyahu era. At the demonstration, banners with the words "lame ducks" and ducks symbolizing Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump attracted attention.

USA blocked the plan!

It was claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad Director Roman Gofman tried to organize an attack on Iran just before the Parliament elections on October 27, but the operation was stopped with the intervention of the USA. According to the news of Israel-based Channel 12, Netanyahu gave the order to carry out the attack. However, a mistake made by an Israeli security officer led to US intelligence becoming aware of the plan. Washington then blocked the operation. The news stated that other senior officials in the security institutions did not support the operation.