Israel's political landscape is shifting toward a historic transition as President Isaac Herzog has tasked Benjamin Netanyahu's strongest rival, Gadi Eisenkot, with forming the next government. The move marks a significant setback for Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving leader, following a deadlocked election that stripped his religious-nationalist coalition of its majority.

According to reports from CNN and The Guardian, President Herzog informed Eisenkot, leader of the centrist Yashar party, of the decision on Saturday night. A formal ceremony to officially grant the mandate will take place on Sunday at the president's residence in Jerusalem.

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A Narrow Path to Power

The decision follows an election on October 27 that left neither major camp with a clear majority in the 120-seat Knesset. The Guardian reports that Netanyahu's camp secured 53 seats, while Eisenkot's wide-ranging opposition bloc won 48. Despite this, the momentum has shifted toward the opposition during the president's consultation process.

CNN reports that Eisenkot secured the support of 67 members of the incoming Knesset, including 19 from the two Arab parties. In contrast, Netanyahu received only 46 recommendations. A particularly telling sign of instability within Netanyahu's ranks occurred when United Torah Judaism, typically a loyal ally, declined to recommend him for the position.

Who is Gadi Eisenkot?

Gadi Eisenkot is a retired military chief who served as Israel's chief of staff from 2015 to 2019. He is positioning himself as a leader who can unite a country that has moved sharply to the right during Netanyahu's tenure.

Eisenkot has taken a hard line on internal security and external threats. He has vowed to destroy Hamas's military wing and end its rule in Gaza. He also opposes the creation of a Palestinian state and is known for the "Dahiya doctrine"—a military strategy developed during the 2006 war with Hezbollah that involves using massive force against civilian infrastructure in areas controlled by the militant group, according to The Guardian.

Domestically, Eisenkot has criticized the Netanyahu government for abetting "Jewish terror," referring to extremist West Bank settlers who have attacked Palestinians with impunity.

The Blueprint for a 'National Emergency Government'

Eisenkot has expressed his intention to form what he calls a "national emergency government." He is pushing to swear in a minority government as quickly as possible, which would include four Jewish opposition parties holding 48 seats: his own Yashar, the Democrats led by Yair Golan, Yisrael Beiteinu led by Avigdor Liberman, and "Together," led by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, CNN reports.

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To join this coalition, Eisenkot has set four strict conditions:

  • Recognition of Israel as a Jewish, democratic, liberal, and egalitarian state.
  • A commitment to the values outlined in the Declaration of Independence.
  • The implementation of universal service, whether it be military, national, or civilian.
  • The recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization.

    • While the final condition effectively prevents Arab parties from sitting in the Cabinet, they could still provide a parliamentary safety net by supporting the government from the outside.

    Fragile Alliances and Political Deadlocks

    Despite the mandate, the path to ousting Netanyahu remains fraught with obstacles. The primary hurdle is Avigdor Liberman, who has ruled out any government that depends on Arab parties. Liberman warned on X that a minority government would be short-lived and could eventually allow Netanyahu to return with even more power, potentially 70 seats, CNN reports.

    Liberman has proposed an alternative: a coalition of 61 lawmakers that includes the ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism. However, this plan clashes with a core opposition pledge to end the blanket draft exemption for ultra-Orthodox men. While the ultra-Orthodox parties want the exemption enshrined in law, Eisenkot and Liberman have both pledged to uphold universal service.

    What to Watch Next

    Eisenkot now has up to six weeks to assemble a governing coalition. While he has a parliamentary majority on paper, he does not yet have a functioning government.

    Under Israeli law, only a simple majority is needed to establish a government. However, removing an existing one is more difficult, requiring an absolute majority of 61 votes to support an alternative government. Whether Eisenkot can bridge the gap between his secularist goals and the demands of potential coalition partners will determine if Netanyahu's era finally comes to an end.

    Sources

    This article was written with AI assistance from the reporting below, which was trending on Google Search at the time of publication.