Gadi Eisenkot Emerges as Leading Candidate to Form New Israeli Government

Gadi Eisenkot, the leader of Israel’s opposition, is seen as the top candidate to form a new government. This comes after a religious party that has supported Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the past chose not to endorse him.

President Isaac Herzog is currently meeting with political parties to discuss the next steps following the October 27 election. Neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot secured enough votes for a majority. Traditionally, the president selects the candidate with the most party recommendations, which currently favors Eisenkot.

United Torah Judaism, a party that has backed Netanyahu in previous elections, informed Herzog that it would not recommend any candidate for prime minister this time. This party represents ultra-Orthodox Jews and holds seven seats in the 120-member parliament. They have been advocating for the exemption of religious students from military service, a point of contention in Israeli society.

Eisenkot, a former military chief who aims to unify the country, has received support from some Arab lawmakers, which could help him form a government. However, he has not yet confirmed if he would accept their backing. The Arab parties gained significant representation in parliament due to dissatisfaction with Netanyahu’s policies.

If Herzog chooses Eisenkot or another candidate, that person will have 28 days to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension. Currently, Netanyahu’s bloc holds 53 seats, while Eisenkot’s has 48. The outcome of these negotiations will be crucial for Israel’s political landscape moving forward.