Gadi Eisenkot to form government is the latest development in Israeli politics after President Isaac Herzog selected the Yashar party leader to attempt to build a governing coalition following the country’s inconclusive general election.
The announcement came on Saturday, 7 November 2026, after several days of consultations between the president and representatives of Israel’s political parties.
Eisenkot, a former Israeli military chief and one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s main political opponents, received recommendations from 67 members of the Knesset.
Netanyahu, whose right-wing and religious coalition lost its parliamentary majority in the 27 October election, received support from 46 lawmakers during the consultations.
However, neither leader currently has a guaranteed majority capable of forming a stable government.
Eisenkot will formally receive the mandate at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem on Sunday, 8 November.
He will have 28 days to negotiate a coalition, with the possibility of a further 14-day extension.
The decision marks an important stage in Israel’s political transition, but the outcome of the negotiations remains uncertain.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog Chooses Gadi Eisenkot.
President Isaac Herzog announced his decision after consulting representatives of the parties elected to the 120-seat Knesset.
Under Israel’s parliamentary system, the president assigns the task of forming a government to a lawmaker considered capable of securing sufficient parliamentary support.
The candidate does not automatically become prime minister.
Instead, they must negotiate agreements with other political parties and establish a government that can win the confidence of parliament.
Eisenkot received the highest number of recommendations during the consultations.
Herzog subsequently held further discussions with political leaders before announcing his decision.
The president’s office confirmed that Eisenkot would receive the formal mandate on Sunday.
The announcement gives Eisenkot the first opportunity to form a government following the election.
Who Is Gadi Eisenkot?
Gadi Eisenkot is a former chief of staff of the Israel Defence Forces and the leader of the Yashar party.
Born in 1960, he served as Israel’s military chief from 2015 to 2019.
His military career included senior command responsibilities and involvement in major Israeli security decisions.
Eisenkot entered parliamentary politics in 2022.
Following the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023, he joined Netanyahu’s wartime cabinet as an observer.
He later returned to the opposition and became increasingly critical of Netanyahu’s leadership.
During the 2026 election campaign, Eisenkot presented himself as an alternative to the incumbent prime minister.
His political platform placed considerable emphasis on national security, government accountability and changes to Israel’s political leadership.
Eisenkot has also experienced personal losses during the war in Gaza.
His son and two nephews were killed while serving in the Israeli military.
Israel Election 2026: Why Did Netanyahu Lose His Majority?
Israel held its general election on 27 October 2026.
The results produced a divided parliament without a clear majority for either of the two main political blocs.
Netanyahu’s Likud party won 27 seats, making it the largest individual party in the Knesset.
However, his wider coalition of right-wing and religious parties secured only 53 seats.
That left the bloc eight seats short of the 61 required for an outright parliamentary majority.
Eisenkot’s Yashar party won 21 seats.
His four-party alliance secured a combined total of 48 seats.
Meanwhile, Arab-led parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel won 19 seats, a record result for those parties.
The outcome created a complicated political situation.
Neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot can form a majority government using only the parties in their existing blocs.
As a result, negotiations with parties outside those alliances have become essential.
Why Did 67 Lawmakers Support Eisenkot?
Although Eisenkot’s alliance won fewer seats than Netanyahu’s bloc, he received more recommendations during the president’s consultations.
A total of 67 lawmakers recommended Eisenkot, compared with 46 who backed Netanyahu.
The difference came partly from the support of Arab-led parties.
Those parties oppose Netanyahu’s current government and indicated that they would support giving Eisenkot the first opportunity to form an alternative administration.
However, recommending a candidate to the president is not the same as agreeing to join that candidate’s government.
Eisenkot and several of his political allies have expressed reservations about relying on Arab-led parties.
This creates a significant challenge.
He has enough recommendations to receive the mandate, but he still needs to establish a workable parliamentary arrangement.
Can Gadi Eisenkot Form a Coalition Government?
Eisenkot has several possible routes to forming a government, although each involves difficult political negotiations.
One option would involve securing support from Arab-led parties.
Together, Eisenkot’s 48-seat alliance and the 19 Arab-led lawmakers would command 67 seats.
However, political disagreements make a formal coalition difficult.
Some members of Eisenkot’s alliance oppose governing with those parties.
Another possibility involves negotiating with ultra-Orthodox parties that have traditionally supported Netanyahu.
The two main ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, could provide enough seats for a parliamentary majority.
However, disagreements over military conscription and religious policy remain significant obstacles.
A third possibility would involve a broad national unity government.
Such an arrangement could include parties from both major political blocs.
Nevertheless, Eisenkot has previously said he would not serve in a government alongside Netanyahu.
These disagreements mean that forming a government will require substantial compromises.
Benjamin Netanyahu Calls for National Unity Government
Following the president’s decision, Netanyahu called for the formation of a national unity government.
The prime minister argued that Israel faces major security challenges requiring broad political cooperation.
He also expressed opposition to a government dependent on Arab-led parties.
Netanyahu has repeatedly criticised those parties and questioned their positions on national security.
Representatives of the Arab-led parties reject such characterisations and argue that Palestinian citizens of Israel deserve full political representation.
Eisenkot’s Yashar party responded by inviting Likud members to consider joining a coalition led by Eisenkot.
However, the party indicated that it opposed including certain far-right political figures.
The exchange highlighted the deep divisions between the competing political blocs.
What Role Could Arab-Led Parties Play?
Arab-led parties have become particularly important following the election.
Their combined 19 seats could influence whether either major bloc can secure parliamentary support.
The Joint List won 11 seats, while Ra’am secured eight.
Their representatives have expressed opposition to Netanyahu’s government and indicated a willingness to help establish an alternative administration.
However, the parties have their own political priorities.
These include equality for Palestinian citizens of Israel, public services, community safety and policies affecting Palestinians in the occupied territories.
A potential agreement with Eisenkot would require negotiations over these issues.
Some Jewish-led opposition parties have also expressed concerns about depending on Arab-led parties for parliamentary support.
Consequently, their influence is significant, but their participation in a future government remains uncertain.
What Does This Mean for the War in Gaza?
Israel’s political uncertainty comes after years of conflict involving Gaza and other parts of the Middle East.
A change of government could affect Israel’s military strategy, diplomatic relationships and approach to negotiations.
However, Eisenkot’s background as a former military chief means his positions should not automatically be assumed to represent a fundamental departure from existing Israeli security policy.
He has criticised Netanyahu’s handling of the Gaza campaign and certain decisions made by the government.
He has also opposed violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Nevertheless, Eisenkot has maintained a strong emphasis on Israeli national security.
The direction of any future government would depend partly on its coalition partners and the agreements reached during negotiations.
No new Gaza policy has been announced as a result of Herzog’s decision.
Could Israel’s Relationship With the United States Change?
The United States remains one of Israel’s most important international partners.
President Donald Trump has publicly supported Netanyahu.
A change in Israeli leadership could introduce new personalities and priorities into discussions between Washington and Jerusalem.
However, US–Israel relations involve long-standing security, diplomatic and economic ties.
Those relationships would not automatically disappear following a change of prime minister.
A government led by Eisenkot would need to establish its approach to relations with Washington, regional security and the continuing tensions involving Iran.
Much would depend on the composition of the coalition and its policy agreements.
For now, Eisenkot has not formed a government, so any detailed assessment of future US–Israel policy would be premature.
How Long Does Eisenkot Have to Form a Government?
Under Israeli law, Eisenkot will initially have 28 days to form a government.
President Herzog may grant an extension of up to 14 additional days.
During that period, Eisenkot will need to negotiate with potential coalition partners.
The discussions are expected to cover cabinet appointments, security policy, economic priorities and religious issues.
Military conscription for ultra-Orthodox men is likely to be a particularly difficult subject.
If Eisenkot successfully forms a coalition, the proposed government must secure parliamentary confidence.
If he fails, the president may give another lawmaker an opportunity to form a government.
Further constitutional procedures would follow if additional attempts also failed.
Ultimately, another election could become necessary.
What Happens if Eisenkot Fails?
Failure to form a coalition would not immediately trigger another election.
The president could first assign the task to another member of parliament.
That candidate would receive a separate period to negotiate with the government.
If the second attempt failed, lawmakers could seek to nominate another candidate under the procedures established by Israeli law.
Only after the available options were exhausted would a further election become necessary.
Throughout the process, Netanyahu would remain prime minister in a caretaker capacity until a new government was approved.
This means Israel could face several weeks or months of political negotiations before a new administration takes office.
Why Is the Decision Important for Israel?
The president’s decision is significant because it gives Netanyahu’s main political opponent the first opportunity to form a government.
Netanyahu has dominated Israeli politics for many years and is the country’s longest-serving prime minister.
However, the October election demonstrated that his existing coalition no longer commands a parliamentary majority.
Eisenkot’s appointment reflects the larger number of lawmakers willing to recommend an alternative candidate.
At the same time, the fragmented election result demonstrates the difficulties facing any prospective government.
Disagreements over security, religion, relations with Palestinians and political leadership remain substantial.
The coming negotiations will determine whether a governing coalition can manage these differences.
Conclusion
Israel’s president picking Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot to form a government marks an important development following the country’s inconclusive October election.
President Isaac Herzog selected Eisenkot after he received recommendations from 67 lawmakers, compared with 46 for Benjamin Netanyahu.
However, Eisenkot’s own political alliance controls only 48 seats, leaving him short of the 61 needed for a parliamentary majority.
He now faces negotiations involving Arab-led parties, ultra-Orthodox groups and other potential coalition partners.
Netanyahu remains prime minister while the process continues.
The outcome will determine whether Israel experiences a change in political leadership or enters another period of parliamentary uncertainty.
For now, the central question is whether Eisenkot can turn presidential support into a functioning government.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has been chosen to form Israel’s next government?
President Isaac Herzog has selected Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, to attempt to form a government.
When was the decision announced?
Saturday, 7 November 2026.
Is Gadi Eisenkot Israel’s new prime minister?
No. He must first form a government capable of securing parliamentary confidence.
Who is Gadi Eisenkot?
He is a former chief of staff of the Israel Defence Forces and the leader of the Yashar party.
How many seats did Eisenkot’s alliance win?
His four-party alliance won 48 seats in the 120-seat Knesset.
How many seats did Netanyahu’s bloc win?
Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist bloc secured 53 seats.
How many seats are needed for a majority in Israel?
A governing coalition normally seeks at least 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset.
How long does Eisenkot have to form a government?
He has 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension.
Will Netanyahu remain prime minister during negotiations?
Yes. He remains in office in a caretaker capacity until a new government takes office.
Could Israel hold another election?
Yes. Another election could take place if successive attempts to form a government fail.
