Gadi Eisenkot is trying to form government in Israel. Here are five ways it could go

Gadi Eisenkot is an Israeli political figure and former military chief. The reports describe President Isaac Herzog asking him to try forming Israel’s next government, during a reported “state of emergency.”

In Israel, this request gives a politician the first opportunity to build a governing coalition. Eisenkot must persuade enough parties to support one platform, then present a government that can win parliamentary approval. The reported example is his outreach to Benjamin Netanyahu’s allies. He was also described as open to Netanyahu joining the next government, showing that coalition-building may cross political lines.

The appointment does not make Eisenkot prime minister automatically. It starts negotiations, and failure would move the process forward under Israel’s government-formation rules. The source reports no final coalition, only active talks and competing possibilities. The immediate question is whether Eisenkot can assemble a stable majority, including Netanyahu-linked lawmakers.

A political bloc needs at least 61 of the Knesset’s 120 seats to form a governing majority. That is one more than half, giving the government control of confidence votes and key legislation. Without 61 reliable supporters, a government may struggle to survive.

The article describes Gadi Eisenkot trying to form Israel’s next government. He has reached out to allies of Benjamin Netanyahu, while another headline says he is open to Netanyahu joining the coalition. The arithmetic matters because agreements between blocs can bring separate parties above the 61-seat threshold.

The source reports that Israel’s president picked Eisenkot to form a government and describes the country as being in a “state of emergency.” It does not provide the blocs’ seat totals. Therefore, Eisenkot’s outreach is crucial: he must assemble enough partners, not merely win the largest bloc. A narrow majority could still depend on coalition discipline to pass measures and remain in power.

Eisenkot would need support from at least 61 Knesset members, the minimum majority in Israel’s 120-seat parliament. The headlines specifically point to Benjamin Netanyahu’s allies and suggest Eisenkot might even include Netanyahu in the government.

Likud would therefore be the central target, because Netanyahu leads it. Eisenkot might also need cooperation from Likud’s religious and right-wing partners, including Shas, United Torah Judaism, Religious Zionism, and Otzma Yehudit. He could seek additional support from centrist or opposition parties, such as Yesh Atid and Yisrael Beiteinu.

The supplied headlines do not give seat totals or list every party involved. Eisenkot’s challenge is building a stable coalition, not simply attracting individual lawmakers. Netanyahu’s participation could bring a wider bloc, but it could also trigger disputes over leadership, ministerial roles, and policy.

Netanyahu’s allies might join Eisenkot if they believe a broader government offers stability during Israel’s “state of emergency.” Joining could preserve their influence, especially because Eisenkot is reportedly open to Netanyahu entering the next government.

The clearest example is Eisenkot’s outreach to Netanyahu’s allies after Israel’s president selected him to form a government. The mechanism is negotiation: allies can trade support for cabinet roles and policy influence. This would not necessarily erase their alliance with Netanyahu; both camps could operate inside one coalition.

However, the source headlines do not confirm that any ally has agreed, or reveal what terms Eisenkot offered. They show only that Eisenkot has a mandate, is contacting Netanyahu’s camp, and sees Netanyahu as a possible partner. The main incentive is practical rather than ideological: joining may keep allies relevant while addressing an urgent national crisis.

If Eisenkot cannot win 61 Knesset supporters, his mandate can pass to another politician. That could produce a different coalition, a unity arrangement, or eventually another election. The key issue is whether any candidate can turn negotiations into a majority.

Israel has repeatedly faced this problem: Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz formed a unity government in 2020 after prolonged coalition deadlock. Its power-sharing agreement showed one escape route: rival blocs can govern together when neither controls the chamber alone. If no candidate succeeds, Israeli law provides further mandate attempts before the Knesset can be dissolved for elections.

The source says the president picked Eisenkot, who is contacting Netanyahu allies and remains open to Netanyahu joining. Those talks are therefore the immediate test. If they fail, the likely sequence is another candidate receiving a chance, followed by a fresh election if no majority emerges.

If successful, Gadi Eisenkot would become Israel’s prime minister instead of Benjamin Netanyahu, changing who leads the government. However, the source gives no detailed Eisenkot platform, so it cannot establish specific changes to security, economic, or domestic policy. His leadership would depend heavily on coalition negotiations.

Those negotiations could produce an unusual arrangement. Headlines say Eisenkot has reached out to Netanyahu’s allies and is open to Netanyahu joining the next government. That suggests continuity in some policies could coexist with a different prime minister, because coalition partners would demand influence over government decisions.

At present, this remains a proposed outcome, not an accomplished transfer of power. The Israeli president has given Eisenkot a mandate to try forming a government, while coverage describes Israel as being in a “state of emergency.” If he succeeds, policymaking would reflect bargaining among his supporters, Netanyahu’s allies, and possibly Netanyahu himself.

Israelis elect party lists to the Knesset, not a prime minister directly. After results, the president gives a likely coalition-builder a mandate to form a government. That leader must negotiate until the proposed cabinet can win majority support in parliament.

The source describes Gadi Eisenkot receiving that mandate and reaching out to Netanyahu allies. This shows the mechanism: parties trade policy commitments and government posts for support. Eisenkot is also reported as open to Netanyahu joining, despite their political differences.

The headlines call Israel a “state of emergency” and show bargaining still underway. Until agreements are secured and approved, election results do not create a working government. Coalition talks can reshape the governing bloc, making compromise essential and sometimes leading to another election.