In brief
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has officially tasked Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming a new government, giving him a 28‑day window to build a majority coalition. The former IDF chief faces stiff hurdles over securing support from Arab and ultra‑Orthodox parties. If he fails, the president can appoint another candidate or call for new elections.
In a move to resolve a prolonged political impasse, Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced on Saturday that he had tasked Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming the next cabinet. The former IDF chief now has 28 days to assemble a majority coalition, with the option to request a 14‑day extension from President Herzog, Xinhua reported.
Herzog invited Eisenkot to the presidential residence on Sunday at 5 p.m. local time (1500 GMT) for the formal receipt of the mandate, the President’s office said. The appointment follows consultations with a range of political parties.
This is the time to establish a national emergency government. I will do anything possible to prove us worthy,
Eisenkot said on X immediately after the announcement. His statement underscores the urgency his supporters see in forming a stable administration.
In the parliamentary recommendations submitted to Herzog, Eisenkot secured support from 48 members of four opposition‑bloc parties and 19 representatives of Arab‑led parties. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was backed by 46 lawmakers, while the seven Israeli‑Orthodox United Torah Judaism party declined to endorse either candidate.
Analysts caution that Eisenkot’s task is fraught, citing divisions within the opposition over potential cooperation with Arab parties and disagreements with the two ultra‑Orthodox parties that together hold 13 seats. Netanyahu, meanwhile, has called for a national unity government and warned against reliance on Arab party support, accusing them of seeking Israel’s destruction.
Protesters at Habima Square in Tel Aviv demanded a new government that unites Jewish and Arab parties, while Netanyahu’s supporters argued that a government should include only Zionist factions.
Under Israeli law, if Eisenkot cannot muster a 61‑seat majority, Herzog may assign the mandate to another candidate or trigger new elections, which would dissolve the current 120‑seat parliament. The nation watches closely as the political race unfolds.
