Joint List Backs Eisenkot as Israel’s Coalition Race Heats up
WHO:
Al Jazeera - The Joint List alliance of Arab-led parties said it would recommend opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to form Israel’s next government.
Al Jazeera - President Isaac Herzog is responsible for choosing the lawmaker he considers best placed to assemble a coalition; the likely candidates are Eisenkot and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Al Jazeera - Ra’am, an Arab-led party with eight seats, also said it would recommend Eisenkot.
Al Jazeera - Degel HaTorah, which holds four of United Torah Judaism’s seven seats, said it would recommend neither candidate.
Al Jazeera - Netanyahu and his Likud party alleged that Arab parties committed election fraud with foreign backing; the article said they made the claims without evidence. Likud warned that Zionist parties cooperating with the Arab bloc would be “dangerous to Israel.”
Al Jazeera - Herzog said he had “great respect” for Palestinian citizens of Israel and condemned “the coarseness and racist expressions that we have heard recently.”
The Jerusalem Post - President Isaac Herzog will consult representatives of elected parties before assigning a lawmaker to form a government.
WHAT:
Bloomberg Markets - Gadi Eisenkot secured recommendations from 67 of the 120 Knesset members, compared with 46 for Benjamin Netanyahu.
Al Jazeera - Arab-led parties won a combined 19 seats in the 120-seat Knesset; the Joint List holds 11 lawmakers and Ra’am holds eight. Their support could give Eisenkot 67 lawmakers, above the 61-seat majority threshold.
Al Jazeera - Netanyahu’s bloc has 53 seats, but may receive fewer than 53 endorsements because Degel HaTorah will recommend neither candidate.
Al Jazeera - Israel’s Central Elections Committee certified the election results after finding no evidence of fraud.
Al Jazeera - Three political activists were arrested over alleged voter bribery before polls opened; they are suspected of connections with Ra’am, which denies involvement.
The Jerusalem Post - The Joint List and Ra’am together hold 19 seats and may play a decisive role in forming the next government.
WHERE:
Al Jazeera - Herzog’s consultations concern forming Israel’s next government; Al Jazeera correspondent Nour Odeh reported from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
WHEN:
Bloomberg Markets - Isaac Herzog said he would decide Sunday whether Netanyahu or Eisenkot would get the first chance to form a governing coalition.
Al Jazeera - Herzog had met representatives of Religious Zionism, Zehut, Shas, and Yisrael Beytenu; talks were to continue Thursday.
Al Jazeera - The presidential nominee will have 28 days to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension. If neither candidate succeeds, another election would be held early next year.
The Jerusalem Post - The designated candidate will initially have 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to form a coalition.
WHY:
Al Jazeera - Degel HaTorah broke with Netanyahu over his coalition’s failure to pass legislation exempting Haredi men from military service.
HOW:
Al Jazeera - After consultations conclude, Herzog will select a candidate to form a coalition. Eisenkot needs 61 Knesset votes; Nour Odeh said he may need an agreement for Palestinian-Israeli parties to abstain.
Al Jazeera - Nour Odeh said that if Eisenkot forms a government, he will become prime minister and Netanyahu will likely lead the opposition.
(UPDATED November 6, 2026 10:59 UTC)
Arab-led parties recommend opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to form Israel’s next government. His 67 lawmakers’ endorsements exceed the 61-seat majority needed to govern. President Isaac Herzog will choose between Eisenkot and Benjamin Netanyahu after consultations.
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(UPDATED November 5, 2026 23:07 UTC)
Arab-led parties backed opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to form Israel’s next government, potentially giving him majority support. President Isaac Herzog will consult elected parties before choosing a coalition-forming candidate. Netanyahu’s bloc has fewer seats, while one religious party endorsed neither candidate.