Israel’s President Taps Eisenkot to Build Coalition, Leaves Door Open to Netanyahu
WHO:
WION - Yair Golan, head of the Democratic Party, criticized Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman over his reported opposition to quickly repealing judicial-overhaul legislation.
ABC News World - Israeli President Isaac Herzog gave opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot the first opportunity to form Israel’s next government.
Al Jazeera - Eisenkot said he was open to including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his coalition and suggested Netanyahu’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich could also join.
Al Jazeera - Eisenkot led Israel’s military from 2015 to 2019 and served as an observer in Netanyahu’s war cabinet for its first eight months.
CNA - Herzog cited a threat of attack from Iran and the need to advance peace in Gaza and negotiations with Lebanon and other neighbours.
Al Jazeera - Arab-led parties endorsed Eisenkot for the mandate, although he ruled out forming a government with them.
WHAT:
WION - Golan wrote on X: “If Liberman wants a government that does not draft the ultra-Orthodox and does not repeal the [judicial] coup laws, he is welcome to form a government with Netanyahu.”
WION - Channel 13 reported that change-bloc leaders sought to swiftly repeal multiple contentious judiciary-related laws passed under the previous Knesset; Liberman reportedly urged the bloc to prioritize replacing the Knesset speaker, setting a prime-ministerial term limit, and appointing a new state comptroller, saying, “Everything else can come later.”
WION - Eisenkot called for a new era of “Zionism, solidarity, and friendship” and said Israel needed leadership that could unite different sections of society and overcome political divisions.
CNA - Eisenkot said he would work to form a “wide” government as quickly as possible, calling the process “extraordinarily complex.”
CNA - Eisenkot called for a “national emergency government” and said “creative and unconventional political steps” would be required.
Al Jazeera - Eisenkot said Likud and the Religious Zionist Party should support a government under his leadership if they believed unity was needed.
Al Jazeera - Eisenkot said he would act in the public’s interests and represent all parts of Israeli society.
Al Jazeera - Eisenkot’s four-party alliance won 48 seats; Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious bloc won 53. Both fell short of the 61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority.
Al Jazeera - Arab-led parties won a record 19 seats. Support from those parties could give Eisenkot a 67-seat bloc; support from United Torah Judaism and Shas would give him 61 seats.
Al Jazeera - Eisenkot could also seek a government with fewer than 61 seats if it won a parliamentary confidence vote.
CNA - Eisenkot’s possible routes included a minority government backed by Arab parties on key issues, a coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties, or a unity government with Netanyahu; each faced significant obstacles.
WHERE:
Al Jazeera - Herzog’s ceremony with Eisenkot took place at Herzog’s office in Jerusalem.
CNA - Herzog formally handed Eisenkot the task at the president’s residence.
WHEN:
WION - WION reported that 67 lawmakers backed Eisenkot.
CNA - Herzog gave Eisenkot the first opportunity on Saturday after the October 27 election and formally assigned him the task on Sunday.
Al Jazeera - Israel’s October 27 election left both blocs short of a majority; Al Jazeera described it as an election in Israel’s October 27 elections.
Al Jazeera - Herzog referred to uncertainty following the November 3 US midterm elections.
Al Jazeera - Eisenkot has six weeks to form a government.
WHY:
CNA - Herzog said Israel needed stable leadership amid a “new political reality” in the United States.
CNA - Eisenkot said Israel was in a state of emergency and approaching “a point of no return.”
Al Jazeera - The election produced no clear parliamentary majority, leaving government formation uncertain.
HOW:
Al Jazeera - If Eisenkot fails, Netanyahu would be the next person likely to receive a mandate; if Netanyahu also fails, elections would be called, and he could remain caretaker prime minister.
CNA - Eisenkot’s mandate began the process of trying to assemble a government after the election deadlock.
(UPDATED November 9, 2026 07:59 UTC)
President Isaac Herzog gave opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot the first chance to form Israel’s next government. Eisenkot seeks a broad unity coalition, but election blocs lack a parliamentary majority. He has six weeks to negotiate, while Yair Golan criticized Avigdor Liberman’s priorities.
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(UPDATED November 9, 2026 04:00 UTC)
President Herzog tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming Israel’s next government after elections produced no majority. Eisenkot is seeking a broad coalition, potentially including Netanyahu, but faces significant obstacles. Arab-led parties endorsed him, though he ruled out including them.