JERUSALEM, Israel | November 8, 2026 — Israeli President Isaac Herzog has formally selected opposition leader and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot to lead efforts to form the country’s next government, dealing a major political blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the inconclusive October 27 elections.
Herzog announced his decision on Saturday, November 7, after consulting political parties elected to the 26th Knesset, Israel’s parliament. Eisenkot is expected to receive the formal mandate on Sunday, giving him the first opportunity to build a governing coalition.
The decision comes after lawmakers representing 67 of the Knesset’s 120 seats recommended Eisenkot, compared with 46 who backed Netanyahu. Another seven lawmakers did not endorse either candidate.
Despite emerging as the largest political bloc, Netanyahu’s coalition failed to secure the 61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority. Eisenkot’s opposition bloc holds 48 seats, while Netanyahu’s coalition has 53. The remaining 19 seats belong to two Arab-led parties whose support could prove decisive in the negotiations.
Eisenkot now faces the difficult task of bringing together political groups with competing positions, particularly over cooperation with Arab parties and exemptions from compulsory military service for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men.
The potential involvement of Arab parties carries historical significance. In 2021, the United Arab List, known as Ra’am, became the first independent Arab party to join an Israeli governing coalition, helping end Netanyahu’s uninterrupted tenure as prime minister at the time.
Eisenkot, 66, is a former chief of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), serving from 2015 to 2019 after a military career spanning more than four decades. He entered politics in 2022 and later joined Netanyahu’s wartime Cabinet following the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. He eventually left the government and became a vocal critic of Netanyahu’s leadership and handling of the Gaza war.
Under Israeli law, Eisenkot has 28 days to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension from the president. If he fails, Herzog may give Netanyahu another opportunity. Failure by both candidates could eventually trigger another election.
Netanyahu and his Cabinet will remain in a caretaker capacity until a new government is formed.
The coming negotiations will determine whether Israel gets its first opposition-led government in years, a broad unity administration or another election, as the country remains deeply divided over its political leadership, security and the future direction of the government.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
