Eisenkot Seeks Coalition: Former Army Chief Given 28 Days to Form Israeli Government

Gadi Eisenkot, Israel’s former military chief of staff, formally received the mandate to form a new government from President Isaac Herzog on Sunday. Eisenkot, 66, leads the Yashar party and has pledged to address the country’s deep political division. He now has 28 days to assemble a majority in the Knesset, a deadline that begins immediately upon the transfer of the mandate.

Eisenkot’s political bloc holds 48 of the 120 seats in parliament, leaving it without a clear majority. He must secure an additional 13 votes to reach the 61 required for a governing coalition. His primary options include negotiating a power-sharing deal with Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, seeking support from Arab-led parties, or allying with ultra-Orthodox groups. Each path presents distinct political challenges and internal resistance within his own coalition partners.

During his acceptance ceremony, Eisenkot wore a suit and tie rather than his usual black attire. He described the nation as being in a state of emergency and approaching a critical turning point. He stated that forming a national emergency government would require creative and unconventional political steps. Both Eisenkot and President Herzog cited Israel’s deepening international isolation as a key factor in the current political moment.

The diplomatic context includes the recent midterm elections in the United States, where Democrats won seats amid calls to reconsider the alliance with Israel. This shift follows the devastation in Gaza and the conflict with Iran, which Netanyahu launched alongside Donald Trump. Eisenkot characterized this shift as a devastating diplomatic crisis, noting that strategic allies are reassessing their relationships with Israel.

Eisenkot invited Netanyahu’s Likud party and the far-right party led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to join his government, insisting he would serve as prime minister. He said, "My door is open and my hand is extended, wholeheartedly and willingly, to anyone who understands the gravity of this moment." Success would mean replacing Netanyahu, who has served as premier for the longest period in Israeli history.

In the October elections, the opposition bloc led by Eisenkot won 48 seats, while Netanyahu’s camp secured 53. Neither side achieved a majority. Eisenkot secured endorsements from both Arab-majority lists, which made substantial gains in the recent vote. He set conditions for their inclusion, requiring recognition of Israel as a Jewish state and the designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization. His coalition partner, the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has already ruled out sitting with Arab-led parties.

The campaign focused on equal military service, aiming to end draft exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox community. Eisenkot also promised to address attacks by extremist West Bank settlers, whom he described as committing Jewish terror with government support. He opposes the creation of a Palestinian state and has vowed to end Hamas’s rule in Gaza and destroy its military wing.

Netanyahu has alleged that the election was influenced by Arab parties, who mobilized their supporters, though he has offered little evidence to support this claim. The Shin Bet security agency opened an investigation into possible foreign interference. The Central Elections Committee and President Herzog maintain the result is valid. Netanyahu proposed a national unity government on Saturday night, but details on power sharing remain unclear.

Eisenkot served as military chief of staff from 2015 to 2019 and commanded the army during the 2006 war with Hezbollah. He devised the Dahiya doctrine, which advocates using massive force against civilian infrastructure in areas controlled by Hezbollah. If Eisenkot fails to secure the necessary votes within 28 days, Herzog can grant a 14-day extension. If that fails, Israel will hold fresh elections, a scenario that occurred five times between 2019 and 2022.