Israeli President Isaac Herzog has selected opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strongest political rival, to attempt to form the country's next government following an inconclusive parliamentary election that has left both leaders struggling to secure a majority.
Herzog informed Eisenkot, who heads the Yashar party and is a former military chief, of his decision on Saturday. The formal appointment is scheduled to take place at a ceremony at the president's residence in Jerusalem on Sunday.
The decision marks a setback for Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, whose religious-nationalist coalition lost its parliamentary majority in the October 27 election, despite emerging as the largest political bloc in the Knesset.
According to the election results, Netanyahu's bloc secured 53 of the 120 parliamentary seats, while the opposition grouping led by Eisenkot won 48. Arab-led parties secured a record 19 seats, leaving them in a potentially decisive position in determining the formation of the next government.
Arab parties back Eisenkot despite opposition within his bloc
During consultations with Herzog, representatives of factions comprising 67 lawmakers recommended Eisenkot for the mandate, compared with 46 who backed Netanyahu. Arab leaders, angered by the policies pursued by Netanyahu and his far-right allies, also threw their support behind the former military chief.
However, Eisenkot faces a significant challenge in translating that backing into a governing majority. His anti-Netanyahu bloc has so far resisted formally joining forces with Arab parties, even though their support could provide the numbers needed to form a government.
Eisenkot has indicated that he could consider working with Arab-led parties under certain conditions. These include recognising Hamas as a terrorist organisation and accepting that the group must be destroyed.
The possibility of Arab parties supporting a new government has become a major political flashpoint, with Netanyahu and his allies repeatedly portraying their involvement as a threat to Israel's national security.
In a video statement issued shortly before Herzog's announcement, Netanyahu called for the formation of a "national unity government" and warned against "hastily swearing in a government with terrorist supporters", an apparent reference to the Arab-led parties backing Eisenkot.
Netanyahu has also argued that a government dependent on Islamist parties could undermine Israel from within.
Eisenkot's party hits back at Netanyahu
Eisenkot's Yashar party criticised the prime minister's remarks in a statement posted on X, urging members of Netanyahu's Likud party to distance themselves from their alliance with "radical parties".
The statement appeared to target the more extreme factions within Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition, including far-right groups that have been central to his government.
Yashar maintained that any government formed under Eisenkot would include only political parties and members of parliament who accept its core principles. These include explicitly recognising Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
The political deadlock has also opened up several possible routes for government formation, although each involves difficult compromises. Eisenkot could attempt to form a government with conditional support from Arab parties, seek backing from ultra-Orthodox factions or explore a broader arrangement with other opposition groups.
A unity government involving Netanyahu's Likud party is another possibility, although Eisenkot has previously rejected serving alongside the prime minister.
Eisenkot gets 28 days to form government
Under Israel's government formation process, Eisenkot will have 28 days to assemble a coalition, with the possibility of a two-week extension. If he fails, another political leader could be given an opportunity to form a government.
Netanyahu will continue as caretaker prime minister until a new administration is formed. If negotiations fail and no political grouping manages to secure a parliamentary majority, Israel could be forced into another election.
The outcome will depend largely on whether Eisenkot can overcome disagreements within his own opposition bloc and secure sufficient support from parties whose backing remains politically contentious.