Eisenkot-led bloc agrees on key Knesset appointments, names Matan Kahana for speaker

Former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot has reached an agreement with four Opposition leaders on candidates for senior positions in the 26th Knesset, as he begins efforts to form the country's next government.

Under the agreement, former minister Matan Kahana has been named as the bloc's candidate for Knesset speaker. The understanding was reached between Eisenkot and the leaders of the change and reform parties: Naftali Bennett, Yair Golan, Avigdor Lieberman and Yair Lapid.

Eisenkot announced the agreement in a post on X on Tuesday, saying the leaders had agreed on prospective candidates for key parliamentary positions during the government formation period.

Roy Folkman has been selected to chair the Knesset's Arrangements Committee, while former defence minister Avigdor Lieberman is the candidate to head the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee. Liran Avisar Ben-Horin has been named for the chairperson's post in the Finance Committee.

The Arrangements Committee will discuss the composition of the Knesset's committees during its deliberations this week. The proposed composition will then be submitted to the Knesset plenary for approval next Wednesday. The parties have also agreed to establish special committees, with further details expected to be announced separately.

Eisenkot receives mandate to form government

The agreement comes a day after President Isaac Herzog formally entrusted Eisenkot with forming Israel's next government. Herzog handed him the mandate on November 8, following consultations with representatives of parties elected to the 120-member Knesset.

Eisenkot had received recommendations from lawmakers representing 67 seats, while representatives of 46 seats backed outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A party from Netanyahu's camp, holding the remaining seven seats, did not recommend either candidate. The 67 recommendations in Eisenkot's favour included those from two Arab-led parties.

The October 27 election failed to give either Eisenkot's bloc or Netanyahu's alliance the 61 seats required for a majority in the Knesset.

Eisenkot's four-party bloc, which includes his own Yashar party, holds 48 seats. Yashar is the second-largest party in the incoming parliament, with 21 seats. Netanyahu's Likud secured 27 seats, the highest tally for any single party, while his wider religious-nationalist bloc has 53 seats.

With neither camp commanding a parliamentary majority, negotiations with parties outside the two main blocs will be crucial to government formation.

Lapid backs efforts to form national emergency government

Former prime minister and Opposition leader Yair Lapid also confirmed that he had met Eisenkot to discuss coordination ahead of the 26th Knesset and the formation of a new government.

In a post on X, Lapid said: "I recently met with Yashar! party chairman Gadi Eisenkot. We discussed coordinating efforts for the 26th Knesset and our commitment to forming a national emergency government as soon as possible."

Eisenkot had said on November 8 that he would work towards forming a broad government without delay. He called for a national emergency administration and said the process would require creative and unconventional political steps.

"We must form a national emergency government. This will require creative and unconventional political steps," he said, according to reports by Reuters and AFP.

Eisenkot has 28 days to form government

Under Section 8 of Israel's Basic Law: The Government, Eisenkot has 28 days from receiving the mandate to assemble a government. Herzog can grant him an extension of up to 14 additional days if required.

However, receiving the mandate does not automatically make Eisenkot prime minister. He must secure the support of at least 61 members of the 120-seat Knesset to win approval for his government.

The involvement of the Arab-led parties in the recommendations submitted to Herzog, as well as the differences between the political camps, could complicate coalition negotiations. Eisenkot has said he intends to pursue a broad arrangement, but the final shape of the government will depend on whether he can secure sufficient support in parliament.