by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israeli President Isaac Herzog has selected opposition leader and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot to form a new government, dealing a major political blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Eisenkot received the backing of 67 of Israel’s 120 lawmakers, compared with 46 supporting Netanyahu. However, forming a governing coalition could prove difficult because Eisenkot has ruled out joining forces with Arab-led parties whose support helped secure his nomination.
Eisenkot, 66, is expected to receive the formal mandate on Sunday, while Netanyahu remains prime minister for now.
The decision follows Israel’s October 27 parliamentary elections, which failed to produce a clear majority for either political camp after years of political divisions, controversy over the Gaza war and mounting pressure on Netanyahu’s leadership.
NETANYAHU CALLS FOR UNITY
Netanyahu called for a national unity government bringing together Israel’s main political factions, while warning against relying on Arab-led parties that he accused of supporting terrorism.
Eisenkot’s Yashar party rejected the criticism. It urged lawmakers from Netanyahu’s conservative Likud movement to join a broader government without the far-right allies that backed him.
Although Netanyahu’s Likud won the most seats of any single party, he and his political allies fell short of securing a parliamentary majority.
Eisenkot’s alliance also lacked a majority but gained the support of Arab-led parties, despite disagreements over whether they could participate in a future cabinet.
DIFFICULT COALITION TALKS
President Herzog acknowledged that Eisenkot faced a difficult task despite receiving the most parliamentary endorsements. “The authority vested in me by law is to determine who has the ability to form a government,” he said.
Eisenkot will have 28 days to negotiate a coalition, with a possible extension of another 14 days.
His options include forming a minority government supported externally by Arab lawmakers, reaching agreements with ultra-Orthodox religious parties or negotiating a broader national unity government.
Yousef Jabareen, leader of the Arab-led Joint List, acknowledged his party’s disagreements with Eisenkot but explained its decision to support him: “We are not choosing between good and better, but between what we see as bad and even worse.”
FORMER MILITARY CHIEF
Eisenkot, the son of Moroccan immigrants, comes from Israel’s Mizrahi Jewish community, whose roots are in the Middle East and North Africa.
He previously served in Netanyahu’s wartime cabinet following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel but later became an outspoken critic of the prime minister’s handling of the Gaza conflict.
The former military chief has also criticized violence by Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank, known in Israel as Judea and Samaria, and opposed Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners.
Eisenkot’s family suffered deeply during the Gaza war, with his son and two nephews killed while serving in the Israeli military.
NETANYAHU’S LEGAL TROUBLES
The political setback raises further questions about the future of Netanyahu, 77, as he continues to face a long-running corruption trial involving charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
The prime minister has denied wrongdoing, describing the prosecution as politically motivated.
The proceedings involve allegations that Netanyahu accepted expensive gifts from wealthy associates and sought favorable media coverage in exchange for regulatory or political benefits.
Several of his current and former advisers have also faced scrutiny over alleged financial links to Qatar, which has played a prominent role in negotiations involving Hamas. Israeli police referred the separate investigation to prosecutors, while reports indicated that some aides could face charges.
ANOTHER ELECTION POSSIBLE
Netanyahu has not been convicted, and losing office would not automatically affect his corruption trial. However, it could weaken his political influence as the legal proceedings continue.
If Eisenkot fails to form a government, Herzog could turn to another lawmaker, potentially Netanyahu. Another election remains possible if coalition negotiations collapse.
For now, Netanyahu remains Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, but his political future is increasingly uncertain amid regional security threats, tensions with Iran and unresolved disputes over Gaza and the Palestinians.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
