Israel’s President Tasks Gadi Eisenkot with Forming New Government After Election

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog announced on Saturday that he would ask Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government. This decision comes after last week’s election, where no party secured a majority. Eisenkot, a newcomer in politics and a former military leader, aims to unite various groups, including ultra-Orthodox Jews, to build a coalition.

Herzog’s announcement follows consultations with different political parties. Eisenkot received backing from representatives of 67 lawmakers, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc has support from 46 lawmakers. However, some of Eisenkot’s support comes from Israel’s Arab minority, which has become a significant player in the election.

Netanyahu, who has been in power for nearly two decades, faces serious legal troubles, including corruption charges. He has proposed a unity government but insists that any coalition must exclude Arab parties. He criticized Eisenkot’s potential reliance on Arab votes, claiming it would undermine Israel.

In response, Eisenkot’s party has called for Netanyahu’s allies to join a unity government led by him. Some opposition members, like Avigdor Liberman, have expressed concerns about working with Arab parties but have also shown flexibility on other issues, such as military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews.

Eisenkot has emphasized the need to replace Netanyahu, describing him as a threat to democracy in Israel. He plans to form a government that could initially rely on outside support, with the hope of bringing in more parties later. After his appointment, Eisenkot will have 28 days to secure the necessary votes to form a government.

If he cannot gather enough support, Herzog can grant him an additional 14 days, but if that fails, Israel may face new elections. The country has experienced political deadlock in recent years, leading to five elections between 2019 and 2022.