Israel’s President Isaac Herzog has nominated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s main political rival, Gadi Eisenkot, to form the next government, dealing a setback to Netanyahu after his party failed to secure a parliamentary majority despite winning the most seats in last month’s election.
Netanyahu’s Likud party won 27 seats, six more than Eisenkot’s Yashar party. However, neither party secured enough support to command a majority in Israel’s 120-seat parliament.
Herzog will formally give Eisenkot the mandate at 5pm local time on Sunday.
From military chief to political rival
Eisenkot served as chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces from 2015 to 2019, making him the country’s top military commander during that period.
A veteran of several military campaigns, he later joined Netanyahu’s emergency war cabinet following the Oct 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel.
However, he left the cabinet the following year, accusing Netanyahu of failing to make progress towards ending the Gaza war and securing the release of hostages.
Eisenkot also lost his son, Gal, a reservist killed in Gaza, as well as two nephews during the war.
28 days to form coalition government
Eisenkot leads the centrist Yashar party, which he founded on an anti-corruption and government reform platform.
He now has 28 days to form a coalition government, with a possible 14-day extension.
This gives him up to six weeks to negotiate with rival parties and secure the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority.
Another election remains a possibility
If Eisenkot fails to form a government, Herzog can give another lawmaker an opportunity to do so.
Should those efforts also fail, Israel could face another election.
In the meantime, Netanyahu would remain as caretaker prime minister.
