On 7 November 2026, the President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog, announced that he would receive the leader of the centrist party Yashar, Gadi Eisenkot, on 8 November 2026 at his official residence in Jerusalem on government formation and task him with forming a government. A spokesperson for the President’s Residence said Herzog had invited Eisenkot for that date; the announcement follows official consultations with the factions of the newly elected 26th Knesset in early November 2026.
According to the President’s Office, the decision was based on the number of recommendations each candidate received during the consultation round: Gadi Eisenkot led with 67 recommendations, while the incumbent Prime Minister received Benjamin Netanyahu 46 recommendations. Representatives of several parties, including the United Arab List (Ra'am) and Yisrael Beiteinu, had recommended that Herzog give Eisenkot the first chance to form a government. These recommendations are not legally binding; the constitutional responsibility for appointing the person with the best prospects of forming a viable coalition rests with the President.
Eisenkot, a former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, had said after the parliamentary elections on 27 October 2026 that he sought a “Zionist, unifying” government that would, among other things, pursue universal national service for all population groups. Observers see his mandate as an opportunity to forge a centre-right coalition involving both secular and Arab-list parties – a combination that has so far been politically difficult to achieve in Israel.
For Benjamin Netanyahu, the decision is a setback: despite his attempts to continue mobilising support for a new majority, President Herzog said publicly that he had taken account of the competitive situation and possible mutual vetoes between blocs. If Eisenkot fails to present a viable coalition within the statutory 28-day period (which the President may extend), the mandate can be transferred to another candidate or a further political decision-making process may follow.
The situation remains fluid; however, the President’s move today marks the formal beginning of a new phase in government formation in Israel. Relevant figures and factions must now use the deadline set by Herzog and the political framework for negotiations.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).