Israel's long political standoff has taken a sharp turn. President Isaac Herzog has chosen Gadi Eisenkot, the former army chief who now leads the Yashar party, to try and form the country's next government, passing over caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The decision was announced on Saturday, November 7, and the formal handover of the mandate is scheduled for 5 pm local time on Sunday, November 8 (around 8:30 pm IST) at the President's Residence in Jerusalem.
For the first time in years, someone other than Netanyahu gets the first shot at building a coalition after a general election. Whether Eisenkot can turn that chance into a working majority is a very different question.
How Herzog Reached His Decision
After the October 27 election, Herzog held the customary consultations with every party elected to the 120-seat Knesset. At the end of that round, 67 members recommended Eisenkot, while 46 backed Netanyahu. The seven members of United Torah Judaism (UTJ), an ultra-Orthodox party, did not recommend anyone.
The President's Office said Herzog met both Netanyahu and Eisenkot before making the announcement. Soon after, Eisenkot wrote on X that the time had come to form a "national emergency government" and said he would work to be worthy of the trust placed in him.
The Numbers Behind the Mandate
The 67 recommendations look comfortable on paper, but they come from two very different groups. Eisenkot's four-party alliance won 48 seats. The remaining 19 came from Arab-led parties, the Joint List and Ra'am, which together posted a record result. Netanyahu's right-wing and religious bloc won 53 seats.
| Election date | October 27, 2026 |
| Knesset strength | 120 seats (61 needed for a majority) |
| Recommended Eisenkot | 67 MKs |
| Recommended Netanyahu | 46 MKs |
| Recommended no one | 7 MKs (United Torah Judaism) |
| Eisenkot's alliance | 48 seats |
| Arab-led parties | 19 seats (Joint List and Ra'am) |
| Netanyahu's bloc | 53 seats |
| Time to form government | 28 days, extendable by 14 days |
That split is the heart of Eisenkot's problem. A government that relies on Arab-led parties, even from outside, is strongly opposed by some of the very partners he needs, including Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu. Reports differ on how far Eisenkot himself is willing to go: some outlets say he has ruled out a coalition with Arab-led parties, while others say he is open to any party that accepts his conditions.
Eisenkot's Four Conditions
Eisenkot has said that any party joining him must accept four principles:
- Recognition of Israel as the sovereign state of the Jewish people.
- Acceptance of the principles of Israel's Declaration of Independence.
- A universal service obligation for all citizens.
- Treating Hamas as a terrorist organisation and dismantling its remaining military and governing capabilities.
The third point is the trickiest. Ultra-Orthodox parties want legal protection for yeshiva students who study instead of serving in the army. Eisenkot and his partners campaigned on widening service obligations. Bridging that gap with UTJ and Shas, which recommended Netanyahu, is the most likely route to 61 seats, but it would mean one side giving ground on an issue that has dominated Israeli politics for years.
Where This Leaves Netanyahu
Netanyahu remains caretaker prime minister until a new government is sworn in. He has pushed for a national unity government and has questioned parts of the election result amid a probe into suspected voting irregularities, though Israel's Central Elections Committee has said the integrity of the vote was not compromised. If Eisenkot succeeds, Netanyahu and his allies would move to the opposition benches.
Herzog's choice is still a major setback for Israel's longest-serving prime minister. In past rounds, he was usually the first to be handed the mandate.
What It Means for Readers in India
India and Israel share deep defence, agriculture, water and technology ties, and those links have held steady under governments of every colour in Jerusalem. A change of leadership is unlikely to alter that basic direction. But a new prime minister would shape Israel's approach to Gaza, Iran and the wider West Asia region, which matters for India's energy security, the safety of Indian workers in Israel and the Gulf, and trade corridor projects that run through the region.
What Happens Next
Once he formally receives the mandate, Eisenkot has 28 days to put together a coalition, and Herzog can extend that by up to 14 days. If he fails, the President can hand the task to another lawmaker. If that attempt also fails, a majority of 61 MKs can ask the President to give the mandate to a named member. If nobody can form a government, the Knesset is dissolved and Israel heads to yet another election.
The coming weeks will be about quiet negotiations: how far UTJ and Shas will bend on military service, whether Lieberman can live with the final shape of the coalition, and whether Eisenkot is willing to lead a narrow or even minority government that must survive a confidence vote. ViralDose will track each step as it happens.
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