Herzog Picks Eisenkot to Form Israel’s Next Government After Vote

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has chosen Gadi Eisenkot to attempt to form the next government, opening a new phase of coalition bargaining after the Oct. 27 election left neither rival camp with a majority.

The Yashar! leader will formally receive the mandate at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem on Nov. 8, 2026, Israeli outlets Walla and Israel Hayom reported. The handover is scheduled for 6 p.m. Istanbul time, equivalent to 5 p.m. Israel Standard Time.

Herzog informed Eisenkot of his decision on Saturday after consultations with parliamentary factions and further talks with political leaders. The announcement does not install Eisenkot as prime minister or establish a governing coalition.

Endorsements Leave Coalition Unsettled

Factions representing 67 of the Knesset’s 120 lawmakers recommended Eisenkot, compared with 46 for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. United Torah Judaism, which holds seven seats, recommended neither candidate, according to Walla and Israel Hayom.

The decision follows the Joint List’s endorsement of Eisenkot, which widened his lead in the presidential consultations. Ra’am also backed his bid.

Those recommendations do not amount to an agreed coalition. Four Jewish-led parties supporting Eisenkot hold 48 seats, while Arab-led parties hold 19, according to a report by Al Jazeera and The Associated Press. Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious bloc holds 53.

Eisenkot has ruled out bringing the Arab-led parties into government unless they meet his conditions, the report said. Securing both United Torah Judaism and Shas would instead give his camp 61 seats, though Shas recommended Netanyahu.

Netanyahu has called for a broad government while rejecting reliance on Arab parties. He remains caretaker prime minister while efforts to assemble a successor administration continue.

A Standard Formation Deadline

Under Israel’s Basic Law: The Government, the first nominee has 28 days to form an administration. The president may grant extensions totaling up to 14 additional days; an extension is not automatic.

The timetable is the standard constitutional procedure, rather than a special arrangement for Eisenkot. A proposed government must still win the Knesset’s confidence before taking office.

Eisenkot served as Israel Defense Forces chief of staff from 2015 to 2019. He left Benny Gantz’s National Unity party in 2025 and founded Yashar!, which he leads in the current formation talks.