Israeli president tasks Eisenkot with forming new government

Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Sunday tasked Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming a new government after parliamentary elections left his bloc and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s alliance short of a majority.

Eisenkot formally received the mandate to form the next government during a meeting with Herzog at the presidential residence in West Jerusalem, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported.

The appointment followed Herzog’s consultations with parties represented in the Knesset. Sixty-seven lawmakers recommended Eisenkot, 46 backed Netanyahu and seven declined to recommend either candidate.

Under Israeli law, Eisenkot has 28 days to form a governing coalition. The president can grant him an extension of up to 14 days.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Herzog said Eisenkot had secured clear support to form a government.

Israel needs a “stable government,” he said, calling for efforts to unite Israeli society, continue implementing the 20-point plan for the Gaza Strip, negotiate with countries in the region, respond to developments in the US and address the issue of military conscription.

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‘Point of no return’

After accepting the mandate, Eisenkot said he was taking on the task “out of a deep sense of duty and an awareness of the weight of the responsibility,” warning that Israel was facing “a critical national emergency.”

“The objectives of the war have yet to be achieved, while we face a serious political and diplomatic crisis,” he said, adding that even Israel’s closest allies were calling for a reassessment of their relations with the country.

“Israel is going through one of the most difficult periods in its democratic history. If the current situation continues, it could deteriorate to the point of no return,” Eisenkot said, stressing the urgent need for new leadership.

He pledged to work toward forming a “national emergency government,” saying the situation could afford neither delays nor another election.

“Israel needs a change of course after the difficult years it has been through,” he added.

Eisenkot invited Netanyahu’s Likud party and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party to join his government. He made no mention of Jewish Power, led by extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Mutual concessions

In a statement issued by his office after receiving the mandate, Eisenkot said he would approach all parliamentary factions and parties represented in the Knesset and invite them to take part in forming a government, provided they accepted four principles. The statement did not detail the principles.

He said it would be impossible to honor every campaign pledge and that parties would have to make mutual concessions to form a government.

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Eisenkot said he saw unity as “a core value grounded in genuine partnership,” adding that his door was open and his hand extended to anyone who understood the gravity of the situation and was willing to act for Israel.

He also left open the possibility of forming a government with support from the United Arab List (Ra’am) and the Joint List as he seeks to broaden his parliamentary backing.

“Anyone who tries to obstruct the formation of a government for personal rather than substantive reasons will go down in history as someone who failed to save Israel in its hour of emergency,” he said.

Eisenkot said he believed he could form a government “despite the complexity of the task” and expressed confidence that his political partners understood the gravity of the situation and the urgent need to install a new government. Their experience and abilities, he said, were essential to “steering Israel to safety.”

Eisenkot also said 74 Knesset members had expressed a lack of confidence in the continuation of Netanyahu’s government. He did not elaborate.

Although 67 lawmakers recommended Eisenkot for the mandate, his bloc lacks a parliamentary majority of its own. Securing a majority will require agreements with other parties, including Arab parties, whose potential inclusion in the coalition has divided his bloc.

Under Israeli law, if Eisenkot fails to form a government within the allotted time, the president may task another Knesset member with doing so. That lawmaker would have 28 days, with no extension.

​​​​​​​If no government is formed in that period, a majority of Knesset members may nominate one of their colleagues to try to form a government within an additional 14 days, in accordance with the procedures set out in law.

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