Netanyahu rival Eisenkot tapped to form Israeli government
President Isaac Herzog tasked Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the opposition Yashar party, with forming a new Israeli government, delivering a major setback to Benjamin Netanyahu as the coalition prospects shift. Eisenkot has 28 days to assemble a majority after consultations that underscored a potential alternative bloc despite Netanyahu’s long-standing leadership. The move signals a potential reconfiguration of partnerships, with Arab party backing and a wavering ultra-Orthodox ally complicating Netanyahu’s path. The development sets the stage for high-stakes coalition talks and parliamentary maneuvering in the coming weeks, with the next steps centering on securing a stable majority.
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President Herzog announced he will task Gadi Eisenkot with forming the government, positioning the opposition leader as the central figure in the ensuing coalition-building process.
Eisenkot’s bloc is positioned as a potential majority alternative, while Netanyahu’s Likud experiences a notable erosion of momentum amid shifting endorsements and alliances.
During consultations, 67 members of the Knesset recommended Eisenkot to form the new government, compared with 46 backing Netanyahu, highlighting a tilt in support toward the opposition.
Arab parties, totaling 19 seats, signaled backing for Eisenkot’s bid, contributing to the optics of a broader, cross-party coalition possibility.
United Torah Judaism, an ultra-Orthodox ally of Netanyahu, declined to endorse him and suggested it could join an Eisenkot-led coalition, signaling a potential realignment of key blocs.
The transition introduces a window of uncertainty as coalition talks unfold, with implications for governance and policy directions in the near term.