Eisenkot Tapped to Form Israeli Government After Inconclusive Vote

Israel's president has asked Gadi Eisenkot, the leader of the opposition and a former military chief of staff, to attempt to form a new government, according to the BBC. The decision follows an election last week that produced no clear winner. Neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc nor the bloc aligned with Eisenkot secured a majority in the Knesset, the BBC reports.

PBS NewsHour reports that the president held lengthy consultations this week with representatives of most of Israel's main parties. Those discussions produced a recommendation that Eisenkot be given the first chance to assemble a government. That outcome is a setback for Netanyahu, who has led the country for much of the past two decades and had hoped to remain in office.

The New York Times describes Eisenkot as hoping to succeed Netanyahu by building a coalition from a fragmented field. CBS News notes that he ran directly against Netanyahu, and NPR reports that he emerged as the main rival to the prime minister, while Israel's parties broadly backed him for the task.

The mandate is not yet a guarantee of power. Eisenkot will now need to persuade enough parties to join him to reach the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-seat parliament. Outlets have not yet reported on the specific partners he is approaching or the terms any deal might involve.

Background

Israel uses a parliamentary system in which voters choose parties rather than a prime minister directly. Seats in the Knesset are allocated by proportional representation, which means that few parties win an outright majority and governments are almost always coalitions. After an election, the president, a largely ceremonial head of state, consults the parties and then gives a lawmaker the first opportunity to form a government. That person typically has a fixed period to assemble a majority of at least 61 seats. If the attempt fails, the mandate can pass to another member of the Knesset, and if no one succeeds, the country can head toward new elections.

Benjamin Netanyahu has been a dominant figure in Israeli politics for decades, serving multiple terms as prime minister and building a long career as Likud leader. Coalition politics in Israel has repeatedly tested party leaders, with small parties frequently holding outsized influence because their votes are needed to reach a majority. Disagreements over security policy, religion and the state, and the balance of power between secular and religious parties have often determined whether coalitions hold together.

Eisenkot's profile rests largely on his military career. He served as chief of staff of the Israeli Defense Forces before entering politics and later moved into opposition, positioning himself as an alternative to Netanyahu. Leaders who come from the security establishment have historically drawn support from voters who want a change in direction without a sharp break in national security positions, though such figures have also faced questions about their political experience.

Israel's political system has produced several inconclusive elections in recent years, and the process of forming a government has at times stretched for months. Analysts often point out that the first mandate-holder may succeed or fail depending on negotiations that happen largely out of public view.

Why it matters

The president's decision marks a potential turning point in one of the most closely watched political contests in Israel. If Eisenkot succeeds, it would end Netanyahu's continuous hold on the prime ministership at a moment when the country faces significant domestic and foreign policy questions. Even if he fails, the process may reshape the balance among parties and clarify which alliances are possible.

For the country's parliament, the outcome will test whether a coalition can be built across lines that have traditionally divided Israeli politics. The positions of smaller parties will likely be decisive, and their demands could shape policy on issues ranging from the economy to the status of religious institutions and security matters. Voters who backed a change of leadership will be watching whether a new coalition can deliver stable governance.

For observers outside Israel, the result matters because the Israeli government influences regional diplomacy, defense cooperation and relations with the United States and other partners. A new prime minister would bring a different style and possibly different priorities, although the broader framework of Israeli foreign policy is shaped by institutions and public opinion that extend beyond any single leader.

The episode also highlights the weight of the presidency in Israel's system. Although the role is mostly ceremonial, the president's judgment about which lawmaker is most likely to command a majority can significantly affect the country's direction.

What to watch

The key question is whether Eisenkot can win the support of enough parties to reach a majority. Watch for announcements from smaller parties, which will determine the price of their backing. The deadline the president sets for the negotiations will also matter, since a failed attempt could pass the mandate to someone else or push the country toward another election.

Pay attention to how Netanyahu and Likud respond. Their options, including whether they seek to build a rival coalition, will help determine how the next few weeks unfold. Finally, watch for any early signals on policy priorities, as these will show how much a new government would differ from the outgoing one.