Herzog picks Eisenkot over Netanyahu to form Israel's next government

Israel's President Isaac Herzog has chosen Gadi Eisenkot, the former army chief who leads the Yashar party, to try to form the country's next government, passing over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Herzog told Eisenkot of his decision on the evening of Saturday, 7 November 2026, after meeting both leaders, and the formal mandate was set to be handed over at a ceremony at the President's Residence in Jerusalem on Sunday, 8 November. The choice follows the president's consultations with every party elected to the Knesset, in which Eisenkot was recommended by lawmakers holding 67 of the 120 seats and Netanyahu by 46.

Likud finished first, yet the president passed over its leader. On paper, Eisenkot has the support of a majority of lawmakers. In practice, that majority is not a coalition. A recommendation to the president only says who should try first; it does not commit a party to join the government.

The main problem is the Arab-led parties. Their 19 seats are what took Eisenkot past 61, but Eisenkot has ruled out forming a government that depends on them. Without them, the opposition bloc has 48 seats, 13 short of a majority. The president himself spoke of "mutual vetoes between the blocs and within the blocs themselves".

That leaves the ultra-Orthodox parties as the swing vote. United Torah Judaism, with seven seats, stayed neutral in the consultations. Shas, with six seats, recommended Netanyahu through its chairman Arye Deri. Reports from Israel differ on whether Shas would join talks with Eisenkot: some sources close to the party find it hard to imagine, while a senior Shas figure, Rabbi Moshe Maya, said there was no reason to rule out negotiations. Eisenkot has also said he will not serve under Netanyahu, which makes a broad unity government unlikely.

For India, which deals with Israel on defence, trade and technology, the outcome decides who will lead those ties. A long coalition fight would leave Israel with a caretaker government for longer.

Peepals calculation: Without the 19 Arab-party seats, the opposition bloc's 48 seats leave Eisenkot 13 short of 61. Adding United Torah Judaism's 7 and Shas's 6 would give exactly 61 (48 + 7 + 6 = 61), the smallest possible majority. If the 28 days run from the 8 November ceremony, the first deadline would fall on 6 December, and with the full 14-day extension on 20 December. Our calculation from the reported figures.

Short-term: Eisenkot must win over parties with clashing demands while keeping his promise not to rely on Arab votes. Netanyahu stays prime minister of a caretaker government until a new one is sworn in.

Long-term: If Eisenkot succeeds, Netanyahu leaves office and Israel is led by a former army chief. If he fails, the mandate goes back to Herzog, who could hand it to Netanyahu or another lawmaker, and a further election becomes possible.

Who is affected: Israeli voters and parties; the ultra-Orthodox parties, whose support is now decisive; Arab-led parties, whose record result has given them weight without a promise of a role; and governments, including India's, that deal with Israel on security and trade.

What to watch next: Whether Shas or United Torah Judaism enter formal talks with Eisenkot, and whether he forms a government within 28 days or asks the president for the 14-day extension.

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