Eisenkot, 28 days to form new government in Israel, but the mission is complicated

2026-11-08 16:54:32Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Eisenkot, 28 days to form new government in Israel, but the mission is
Gadi Eisenkot

Israel's president has mandated opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to form a new government after elections, a task that is expected to face challenges.

In a post on X, Eisenkot wrote: “Now is the time to form a national emergency government. I will do everything I can to make sure we are worthy.”

No political party in Israel has ever won an absolute majority on its own; this means that all governments have been coalitions.

Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party, along with its far-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish allies, won 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. Meanwhile, Eisenkot's centrist Yashar party, along with three other Jewish opposition parties in his bloc, won 48 seats.

Two Arab-led alliances, the United Arab List (Ra'am) and the Joint List, won a total of 19 seats. This puts them in a key position, where they could be decisive in forming a government.

Eisenkot has refused to join forces with Arab parties, whose support would give him a majority in parliament. Ra'am has said he will vote for an Eisenkot government even without being part of the deal, while the Joint List will not vote in favor of such a government, nor will it act to overthrow it.

Eisenkot could also try to reach an agreement with the ultra-Orthodox parties, but according to the BBC, even that would be difficult.

The head of Yashar will have 28 days to form a new government, with the possibility of a 14-day extension.

If Eisenkot fails, another candidate can try to form a government; if he fails, parliament can nominate someone else. There is a deadline of about 100 days for this process. If no one succeeds, new elections are held.


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