Jerusalem (Israel). The way was cleared for the formation of a new government in Israel late Thursday evening. Leaders of the Joint List, a coalition of Arab parties comprising 11 MPs, met with President Isaac Herzog.
After this, a letter of support from 66-year-old Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the centrist alliance and former army chief, was handed over to the President. Eisenkot is the leader of the Yashar Party. He formed the party last year and jumped into the election fray this year.
According to reports by The Jerusalem Post and The Times of Israel, the picture changed after last week’s Knesset (Parliament) elections when he received the support of opposition groups and Arab political parties Joint List and Ra’am.
With their support, Eisenkot crossed the majority mark (61 seats) required to form a government in the 120-member Knesset. The Arab party Ra’am has eight MPs. 48 candidates of the Eisenkot-led coalition won the election.
Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in power in the country for the longest period of 19 years, could not gather the necessary majority to form a new government. In the elections held on October 27, his alliance got 53 seats.
On Thursday, United Torah Judaism (UTZ), a party with seven lawmakers in the right-wing coalition led by Netanyahu, announced its separation.
After this the equations changed. The Netanyahu faction is left with only 46 MPs. UTZ has decided to sit separately in the Knesset for now.
Eisenkot said that he would run the country through a democratic system, considering Israel as a Jewish state. Considering Hamas as a terrorist organization, its military power will be eliminated.
The rules for army recruitment will be changed. The code of conduct set for civil rights at the time of the formation of the country will be followed.
Three Arab parties – Hadash, Tal and Balad – are in the joint list that submitted a letter in support of Eysenkot to the President. Ra’am contested the elections separately.
President Herzog said that 67 of the 120 elected members of the Knesset have recommended Eysenkot’s name. He will hand over the responsibility of forming the government to him on Sunday.
After this, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party appealed for unity. He termed the opponents as a destructive group.
According to the report of Channel-12, the swearing-in program will be held on November 10. After the swearing-in, the new Speaker of the Knesset will be elected.
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana has said he will schedule a debate to choose his successor if at least 61 lawmakers formally request it.
Ohana is from the Likud party. The Arab party Ra’am supported Eysenkot and said it would not interfere in defense matters. In the meeting with Herzog, the party’s leader Mansour Abbas avoided explicitly identifying Hamas as a terrorist organization.
However, he repeatedly condemned terrorism and political violence and also said that Hamas should be stripped of its weapons and removed from power.
Eisenkot has set a condition for parties wishing to join his potential government that they must recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization. Abbas expressed hope that Eisenkot would form a good government.
Netanyahu’s longest tenure
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s departure from power is considered certain. He will be known for being the longest serving Prime Minister in the country. He served the first term (3 years) from 18 June 1996 to 6 July 1999.
His second term (12 years) lasted from 31 March 2009 to 13 June 2021. He is serving his third term. He took charge as Prime Minister on 29 December 2022.
Eisenkot has taken command of IDF
Eisenkot has commanded the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The former army chief of staff emerged as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s biggest political rival in this election.
Eisenkot started his career as a common soldier in 1978. He was the 21st Chief of Staff of the IDF from 2015 to 2019. He is the first person of Mizrahi Jewish background to hold this position.
His Dahiya principle is famous in military strategy. After retirement he entered politics in 2022. He formed the party in September 2025. Born on May 19, 1960 in the city of Tiberius, Eisenkot is now going to take over the country.