Eisenkot officially given mandate to form government
The Israeli opposition leader has 28 days to form a coalition, with a possible further 14-day extension.
Follow-up to: Israeli president to choose on Sunday who may form a government Saturday, 7 November 2026, 17:44
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Israeli President Isaac Herzog officially tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot on Sunday with forming a new government. Eisenkot must secure the support of parties that together can form a majority in parliament.
The mandate allows Eisenkot to try to form a government. Under the Israeli president and Israeli law, Eisenkot has 28 days to assemble a government. Herzog can add a maximum of 14 days.
The 27 October election produced no clear majority. According to AP, the bloc around Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has 53 seats, while the opposition bloc led by Eisenkot’s Yashar party has 48 seats. Arab parties hold 19 seats combined.
During consultations with the president, parties with a total of 67 seats recommended that Eisenkot be given the mandate. Parties with 46 seats backed Netanyahu. One party, with seven seats, nominated nobody. Herzog said he had given Eisenkot the best chance of forming a government.
The mandate does not mean that Eisenkot automatically becomes prime minister. He must find a coalition that can win the confidence of at least 61 of the Knesset’s 120 members. Possible support from Arab parties is politically sensitive, because parts of Eisenkot’s bloc object to it.
Co-operation with ultra-Orthodox parties is also difficult. Eisenkot and his allies made equal military conscription a major election issue, while ultra-Orthodox parties want to retain exemptions from military service.
Netanyahu remains prime minister for the time being in a caretaker role with limited powers. If Eisenkot fails to form a government, Herzog can give Netanyahu or another candidate a new opportunity. If all constitutional options fail, new elections will follow.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Eisenkot has officially been tasked with forming a government.
- None of the main blocs has an independent majority of 61 seats.
- Arab parties hold 19 seats jointly and could therefore become decisive.
- Eisenkot has a maximum of 42 days if Herzog grants the full extension.
Left
Arguments A broad coalition that also gives Arab parties influence could, from a left-wing perspective, better reflect the parliamentary result and create room for equal citizenship and a different course after years of war.
Values Sharing power, equal political representation and institutional accountability.
Consequences An agreement could increase the influence of Arab voters, but also lead to major tensions within Eisenkot’s own bloc.
Centre
Arguments The institutional priority is a stable government that can gather 61 seats and draw up a workable programme within the legal deadlines.
Values Governability, parliamentary legitimacy and predictable decision-making.
Consequences A compromise between rival parties could produce a government, but possibly with a limited or internally contradictory programme.
Right
Arguments A government dependent on Arab parties or making concessions on security and national identity could, from a right-wing perspective, insufficiently reflect the election result and the security concerns of a large part of the Jewish population.
Values National security, Jewish state identity and political continuity.
Consequences A broad centrist coalition without right-wing parties could be vulnerable; co-operation with Netanyahu or ultra-Orthodox parties, on the other hand, could put other election promises under pressure.
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 formal mandate, deadlines and parliamentary balance have been checked directly with the Israeli government and AP. The text presents coalition-building as uncertain and makes no prediction about the outcome.
- confirmed President Isaac Herzog has officially tasked Gadi Eisenkot with forming a government. — Confirmed by AP and the Israeli government announcement. source
- confirmed Eisenkot has 28 days, with a maximum 14-day extension. — Stated in the Israeli government announcement and by AP. source
- confirmed Netanyahu’s bloc has 53 seats, Eisenkot’s opposition bloc 48 and Arab parties 19. — Seat distribution according to AP. source
- confirmed An Israeli government needs the support of at least 61 of the 120 Knesset members. — Parliamentary majority rule according to AP. source
Editor's note
The formal mandate, the time limit and the seat distribution have been confirmed by AP and Israeli government sources. It remains uncertain whether Eisenkot can actually form a majority.Sources
- Israel’s president officially gives Eisenkot first chance at government — Associated Press
- President Herzog concludes consultations and announces he will task Gadi Eisenkot with forming a government — Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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
- Sunday, 8 November 2026, 16:45 Eisenkot officially given mandate to form government (this article)
More on this in Dutch media
- AD — „israël gadi eisenkot”
- de Volkskrant — „israël gadi eisenkot”
- RTL Nieuws — „israël gadi eisenkot”