Opposition leader Eisenkot is to form Israel's new government

Israeli President Izchak Herzog has decided to award the task of forming a government to opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot. Herzog's office announced the decision on Saturday evening. The 66-year-old opposition politician Eisenkot had received the most recommendations in the president's discussions with the parties in recent days, but does not yet have a secure parliamentary majority.

Complex government formation expected

Forming a government is considered very difficult and complex, as neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing alliance nor Eisenkot's opposition bloc were able to achieve the required majority of 61 of the 120 seats in the parliamentary elections on October 27th.

The anti-Netanyahu bloc, led by former Chief of Staff Eisenkot, actually refuses to work with Arab parties that could secure him a majority - but Arab politicians still spoke in favor of Eisenkot in the consultations.

A rapprochement between the opposition alliance and the ultra-Orthodox parties that were previously allied with Netanyahu also opens up new coalition possibilities. Together they would have the required 61 seats. The main point of contention is compulsory military service for ultra-Orthodox religious students.

Eisenkot now has 28 days to form a coalition - with the possibility of an extension of 14 days. If this attempt fails, the head of state transfers the task to another member of parliament for 28 days.

Netanyahu calls for a “government of national unity”.

Israel's incumbent Prime Minister Netanyahu had recently called on the opposition parties to form a "government of national unity" in a video message. Netanyahu did not say who would lead such a government. At the same time, Netanyahu warned the opposition against a government that would be dependent on the support of the two Arab parties. According to him, such a government would destroy Israel from within.

Eisenkot described Netanyahu's speech on X as a "cheap PR ploy." The man who divided Israeli society and sowed discord only spoke of unity when he realized that his days in office were numbered.

Netanyahu has never honored an agreement he signed with political partners, Eisenkot said. If the Likud Party and its allies suddenly became interested in "unity" and a broad government, they would be welcome to publicly dissolve their alliance with the extremists and announce their willingness to join a government under Eisenkot, he said.