Israeli president to choose on Sunday who may form a government
Gadi Eisenkot won the support of more MPs, but mutual vetoes make a coalition uncertain.
Follow-up to: Support for green gas remains uncertain after Lower House debate Wednesday, 30 September 2026, 08:05
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Israeli President Isaac Herzog will announce on Sunday which politician may be the first to try to form a government. Herzog faces a choice between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, after neither bloc secured a majority.
During consultations with the elected parliamentary groups, 67 MPs voiced support for Eisenkot and 46 for Netanyahu, Reuters reported. Herzog then said the outcome did not automatically make clear who had the best chance of forming a government, because vetoes exist between and within the political blocs.
The 27 October election produced no clear winner. Netanyahu’s Likud became the largest individual party with 27 seats. His broader religious-nationalist bloc won 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. Eisenkot’s bloc of four centre-left to right-wing Jewish parties secured 48 seats; Arab parties won 19 seats combined.
Eisenkot received support from both Arab parliamentary groups during the consultations. Both Eisenkot and Netanyahu have so far said they do not want to form a government with those parties. The support of 67 MPs is therefore primarily a political indication, not yet a workable coalition.
Herzog can give a candidate a maximum of 28 days to form a government. That period can be extended by 14 days. Until there is a new coalition, Netanyahu will remain as caretaker prime minister. If no candidate succeeds, new elections may be necessary.
The formation process matters beyond Israel because the next government’s political direction could affect the wars and tensions in the region. Which coalition is possible depends not only on Herzog’s initial assignment, but also on parties that rule one another out. Appointing Eisenkot would therefore not yet mean a change of power; giving Netanyahu the assignment would likewise not guarantee that he can find a majority.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- No bloc secured a majority in the Knesset.
- 67 MPs supported Eisenkot in the consultations and 46 supported Netanyahu.
- Both candidates have so far ruled out government cooperation with Arab parties.
- Herzog will choose a candidate on Sunday; that candidate will have a maximum of 42 days, including a possible extension.
Left
Arguments Emphasises that a government with broad representation, including Arab parties, can strengthen legitimacy and domestic equality.
Values Inclusiveness, civil rights and institutional renewal.
Consequences Fears that excluding Arab parties will deepen the political deadlock and social divisions.
Centre
Arguments Emphasises that Herzog must act procedurally on the basis of the greatest chance of a stable majority, and that compromises between parties are necessary.
Values Governability, the rule of law and institutional continuity.
Consequences Fears new elections and prolonged caretaker government if parties maintain their vetoes.
Right
Arguments Emphasises that Netanyahu’s 53 seats and his position as incumbent prime minister constitute a mandate to try to form a right-wing coalition first.
Values Continuity, national security and the voters’ mandate.
Consequences Fears that a coalition dependent on Arab parties would weaken the security policy and governmental stability.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The text follows the new development of 7 November and uses Reuters for the consultation figures and procedure. The coalition uncertainty is not presented as a prediction, but as a consequence of the reported vetoes and stated exclusions.
- confirmed Herzog will announce on Sunday who may be the first to try to form a government. — Reuters reports that Herzog will make a choice on Sunday; Al Jazeera describes the same decision. source
- confirmed 67 MPs supported Eisenkot and 46 supported Netanyahu. — Reuters gives these figures after the consultations. source
- confirmed The Knesset has 120 seats and the blocs won 53, 48 and 19 seats. — Reuters reports the seat distribution. source
- confirmed A prospective prime minister receives 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension. — Reuters describes the statutory government-formation procedure. source
Editor's note
The new development is Herzog’s announced choice on Sunday following the parliamentary consultations. The seat distribution and political blockages have been confirmed by Reuters; the eventual coalition remains uncertain.Sources
The story so far
- Wednesday, 30 September 2026, 08:05 Support for green gas remains uncertain after Lower House debate
- Saturday, 7 November 2026, 17:44 Israeli president to choose on Sunday who may form a government (this article)
More on this in Dutch media
- NU.nl — „israël gadi eisenkot”
- De Telegraaf — „israël gadi eisenkot”
- AD — „israël gadi eisenkot”