President of Israel Isaac Herzog has tasked opposition leader and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot with forming the next government, setting the stage for coalition negotiations after the October 27 parliamentary elections failed to give either political bloc a majority.
Herzog formally assigned Eisenkot the responsibility on Sunday evening, marking a step in the opposition’s efforts to remove Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, from power.
However, Eisenkot faces challenges in securing enough support from the country’s divided political parties to form a governing coalition.
Speaking at the ceremony at the presidential residence in Jerusalem, Herzog said that he hoped the next government would bring different sections of Israeli society together.
“I hope with all my heart that whatever government is formed will lead to unity, connection and healing among all segments of our people… for our very existence depends on it, and we have only one country,” he said.
Eisenkot has 28 days to secure the support needed to form a coalition, with the president able to grant him an additional two weeks.
Herzog said that a majority of members of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, supported giving Eisenkot the task following consultations with political parties.
Addressing the ceremony, Eisenkot pledged to establish a government that represents different sections of society and works in the public interest.
“An absolute majority of Knesset members representing the Israeli public support change,” he said.
He added that he intended to approach the negotiations with “patience, humility, composure and a deep commitment to a Jewish, equal, liberal, and secure Israel”.
One of the main challenges in securing a parliamentary majority involves the Arab-led parties, which made gains in the election following increased voter turnout among Israel’s Arab citizens.
The Arab party Ra’am has offered to support Eisenkot. It remains the only Arab party to have joined an Israeli governing coalition, doing so in 2021. However, its seats alone will not give Eisenkot the numbers required to form a majority.
Eisenkot has also set four conditions for parties seeking to join his government. They must recognise Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, accept its declaration of independence, support military, national or civil service for all citizens and recognise Hamas as a terrorist group.
It remains unclear whether the Arab parties considering an alliance with him will accept these conditions.
If Eisenkot fails to form a coalition within the allotted period, Herzog can give Netanyahu an opportunity to secure parliamentary support and form a government. If Netanyahu also fails, Israel will return to the polls early next spring.
Netanyahu and his cabinet will continue to serve in a caretaker capacity with limited powers until a new coalition takes office.
