JERUSALEM: Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced on Saturday evening that he will task Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot with forming the country’s next government. The mandate comes as the “change bloc” led by Eisenkot continues efforts to assemble potential coalition partners, including ultra-Orthodox factions, Arab-led parties, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud.
Eisenkot will formally receive the mandate during a ceremony at the President’s Residence on Sunday at 5:00 PM. He will subsequently have 28 days to build a governing coalition, with an option for President Herzog to grant up to a 14-day extension if necessary. If Eisenkot fails, Benjamin Netanyahu could be given the opportunity to attempt government formation.
Herzog made the decision following consultations on Wednesday and Thursday with all Knesset parties, alongside weekend discussions across the political spectrum. During consultations, Eisenkot secured 67 recommendations for the premiership—securing a majority in the 120-member parliament—while Netanyahu garnered 46. The United Torah Judaism party, holding seven seats, made no formal recommendation.
Responding to the announcement, Eisenkot posted on X, stating, “Now is the time for the formation of a national emergency government,” and added, “I will do everything to make us worthy.” However, Eisenkot faces significant domestic hurdles. Hawkish members of his bloc oppose any reliance on the Arab-led Ra’am and Joint List, while many campaigned on keeping both Netanyahu and ultra-Orthodox parties out of power.
While Yashar indicated that “Likud and its friends” could potentially join an Eisenkot-led administration, it excluded Netanyahu. Eisenkot has repeatedly maintained that he will not partner with Netanyahu, asserting that leaders holding high power during the October 7, 2023, Hamas invasion must step down from public life.
In a video statement on Saturday evening, Netanyahu urged change-bloc parties to form a “national unity government,” specifying that it must include his previous coalition allies—including the ultranationalist Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit, and ultra-Orthodox parties—a prospect considered highly unlikely. This marked a shift from his post-election statements following the October 27 polls, where he initially vowed to build a right-wing coalition, followed by a call for a broad national government under his leadership on November 2.
Netanyahu did not specify who should lead such a unity government. While he has not officially offered a rotation agreement, Kan public broadcaster cited an unnamed associate estimating Netanyahu would discuss power-sharing if formal negotiations commenced.
The report noted that an emissary sent by Netanyahu to explore a unity government was “rejected out of hand” by Eisenkot, though Yashar representatives stated they were unfamiliar with the approach.
Concluding his statement, Netanyahu issued strong warnings against forming a government backed by Arab parties, labeling them “terror supporters” and claiming such an administration would ruin the nation. “There is someone who wants, as soon as next week, to hastily swear in a government with terror supporters,” Netanyahu warned, targeting Eisenkot and his potential allies.
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