Geopolitics · Sunday, 8 November 2026
Israel's president picks Eisenkot over Netanyahu to form next government
President Isaac Herzog told Gadi Eisenkot on Saturday evening that he would task him with forming Israel's next government, passing over Benjamin Netanyahu, with a formal ceremony planned for 8 November. Eisenkot drew recommendations from 67 of the Knesset's 120 lawmakers against 46 for Netanyahu. Eisenkot's own four-party alliance holds only 48 seats; the gap was closed by Arab-led parties, which won a record 19 seats in the 27 October election and recommended him despite his having previously ruled out governing with them. Netanyahu's 53-seat bloc gave him just 46 recommendations, after at least one religious party declined to back him. Eisenkot now has 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to build a coalition of at least 61 seats.