Eisenkot handed mandate to form Israel's next government in blow to Netanyahu
President Isaac Herzog has given Gadi Eisenkot the mandate to form Israel's next government after he won 67 recommendations in the Knesset, against 46 for Benjamin Netanyahu.
Jerusalem, November 8, 2026. President Isaac Herzog has entrusted Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party and former IDF chief of staff, with forming the next government. Eisenkot secured 67 Knesset recommendations, including 19 from the two Arab parties, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received 46.
Eisenkot has 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to build a coalition of at least 61 of the Knesset's 120 members. Neither Likud nor the other parties have yet committed to joining his government. If he fails, the mandate could pass to Netanyahu.
Sources: Times of Israel (https://www.timesofisrael.com/president-herzog-taps-eisenkot-to-form-coalition-but-path-remains-fraught/), CNN (https://www.cnn.com/2026/11/07/middleeast/eisenkot-israel-government-latam-intl), Al Jazeera (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/11/7/israels-president-picks-eisenkot-over-netanyahu-to-form-next-government), Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/11/07/israeli-president-taps-ex-general-eisenkot-opponent-netanyahu-form-government/).