Eisenkot open to Netanyahu joining Israel’s next government

Being officially tasked means President Isaac Herzog has selected Eisenkot to try to assemble Israel’s next government. Eisenkot must negotiate with parties, propose a coalition, and seek parliamentary backing. The assignment is a formal opportunity, not an automatic transfer of power.

Eisenkot received the mandate at a ceremony in Herzog’s Jerusalem office. He said he would represent all parts of Israeli society and act in the public interest. He also appealed to members of Likud and the Religious Zionist Party to support his leadership.

Eisenkot has six weeks to succeed. His alliance holds 48 seats, while 61 are normally needed for a majority. If he fails, Netanyahu would be the natural second person asked to form a government. If Netanyahu also fails, new elections would be called, while Netanyahu could remain caretaker prime minister.

Inviting Netanyahu and Smotrich would let Eisenkot seek a wider coalition than his own alliance can provide. The appeal reflects his argument that Israel needs unity and a stable government. It also tests whether rival parties would prioritize governing together over remaining in opposition.

At Herzog’s ceremony, Eisenkot said members of Likud and the Religious Zionist Party had told the president they believed this was a time for unity. He said he could not see why they would reject a government under his leadership and principles. That leaves the door open to Netanyahu and Smotrich.

The numbers explain the strategy. Eisenkot’s alliance has 48 seats, below the 61 needed for a majority. Netanyahu’s bloc has 53. Bringing rivals into one coalition could create enough support, but the article does not say they accepted his invitation.

The election produced a divided parliament, with no main bloc reaching the threshold needed to govern alone. Eisenkot’s four-party alliance came first in the reported seat count, but its 48 seats fell 13 short of a majority. Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious bloc performed better numerically, with 53 seats, but also remained short.

Arab-led parties won a record 19 seats. Their support could therefore significantly change the coalition arithmetic. If all 19 backed Eisenkot, his potential bloc would reach 67 seats, although he has ruled out forming a government with them.

The standard majority figure is 61 seats. Eisenkot could reach it by winning support from the ultra-Orthodox parties United Torah Judaism and Shas. The article also notes that he might govern with fewer than 61 seats if he wins a parliamentary confidence vote. The election therefore created several possible, but uncertain, paths.

The two ultra-Orthodox parties could become decisive coalition partners for Eisenkot. Their support would provide the difference between his alliance’s 48 seats and the 61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority. That would give him a straightforward numerical basis for governing.

The mechanism is simple: United Torah Judaism and Shas together would contribute 13 seats. Added to Eisenkot’s 48, they would produce exactly 61. The article presents this as one possible route, separate from relying on Arab-led parties or bringing in Netanyahu’s political camp.

Their role remains uncertain because the article does not say that either party agreed to join. If Eisenkot cannot secure their support, he could still seek a confidence vote with fewer than 61 seats. Failure would allow Netanyahu to receive the next opportunity to form a government, and could eventually lead to elections.

Eisenkot has ruled out forming a government with Arab-led parties, even though their endorsement could give him the largest numerical bloc. This is important because it limits his coalition options and makes his path to power more difficult. The article does not provide his specific reason for excluding them.

The arithmetic is clear. Eisenkot’s alliance won 48 seats, and Arab-led parties won 19. Their combined support would create a 67-seat bloc. That would comfortably exceed the 61-seat majority threshold. Instead, Eisenkot must look to other parties, including the ultra-Orthodox parties or possible rivals from Netanyahu’s camp.

The decision creates a political risk. If Eisenkot cannot assemble another combination, Netanyahu could remain caretaker prime minister and receive the next mandate. Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh said critics question whether opposition to Palestinian citizens of Israel in mainstream politics could help keep Netanyahu in power through another election.

The six-week deadline is Eisenkot’s formal window to build a coalition and obtain parliamentary backing. Failing to do so would end his first opportunity to form the next government. It would not immediately remove Netanyahu from office, because Netanyahu would remain caretaker prime minister.

The article identifies Netanyahu as the natural second person to receive the task if Eisenkot fails. Netanyahu could then try to assemble support from his right-wing and religious bloc, opposition parties, or other lawmakers. The article does not say whether he would succeed.

If Netanyahu also fails, elections would be called. Until then, Netanyahu could continue as caretaker prime minister. This creates a possible route for him to stay in office even after his bloc fell short of the 61 seats needed for a majority. Critics quoted in the article say that possibility may be part of Netanyahu’s political aim.

Israel’s parliamentary process allows continuity when no new coalition is ready. Netanyahu remains caretaker prime minister while Eisenkot tries to form a government. If Eisenkot fails, Netanyahu can receive the next opportunity and still remain caretaker during that process.

A full majority is normally 61 seats, but the article says Eisenkot could form a government with fewer seats if he wins a parliamentary confidence vote. That means formal support in the parliament can matter even without controlling at least 61 seats. The article does not explain the detailed rules of such a vote.

This arrangement keeps the existing leadership in place while negotiations continue. Eisenkot’s alliance has 48 seats, so he needs partners or confidence support. If both Eisenkot and Netanyahu fail, elections would be called. Until then, Netanyahu could remain caretaker prime minister, extending his time in office despite the divided election result.