Eisenkot gets mandate to form Israel government with Arab parties' backing

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has tasked former army chief Gadi Eisenkot with forming the country's next government, bypassing long-serving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after opposition parties secured greater support in parliamentary consultations.

Herzog informed Eisenkot of his decision on Saturday evening, with the formal presentation of the mandate scheduled for Sunday, the president's spokesperson said.

The decision followed consultations with political parties after the October 27 general election failed to produce a clear parliamentary majority.

A total of 67 lawmakers, including representatives of Arab-led parties, endorsed Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, for the premiership. Netanyahu received the backing of 46 lawmakers.

Eisenkot now has 28 days to assemble a governing coalition, with the possibility of a 14-day extension. A government requires the support of at least 61 members in Israel's 120-seat Knesset.

In the election, Eisenkot's four-party alliance secured 48 seats, while Netanyahu's right-wing and religious bloc won 53. Arab-led parties secured a record 19 seats, giving them significant influence in the post-election negotiations.

However, Eisenkot has ruled out forming a coalition directly with Arab-led parties. Instead, he could secure a parliamentary majority by winning the support of the two ultra-Orthodox parties, United Torah Judaism and Shas, which would bring his potential coalition to exactly 61 seats.

He could also form a minority government if it receives sufficient support in a parliamentary confidence vote.

Al Jazeera correspondent Nour Odeh, reporting from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, said Herzog had taken the predictable route by selecting the candidate who received the highest number of recommendations.

Eisenkot now faces the challenge of assembling a government without compromising too many of his campaign commitments while ensuring it can withstand opposition from Netanyahu's right-wing bloc, Odeh reported.

Arab parties back effort to oust Netanyahu

Eisenkot served as chief of the Israeli military from 2015 to 2019. He also served as an observer in Netanyahu's war cabinet during the first eight months of Israel's war on Gaza, which began in October 2023.

Ahmad Tibi, a senior member of the Joint List, a coalition of Arab-led parties holding 11 Knesset seats, described Herzog's decision as expected.

Tibi told Al Jazeera that Arab-led parties had been concerned about the possibility of a national unity government involving both Eisenkot and Netanyahu.

Their endorsement of Eisenkot, he said, had given the opposition leader considerable room to manoeuvre.

Tibi believes Eisenkot could form a minority government with external support from Arab-led parties, although such an arrangement would not represent their ideal political outcome.

He said their priority was to end the Netanyahu government, which also includes far-right politicians Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

Hours before Herzog announced his decision, Netanyahu warned that an opposition government relying on support from Arab-led parties would threaten Israel's existence.

In a prerecorded video address, Netanyahu claimed that a government dependent on Islamist parties would dismantle Israel from within.

Responding to the remarks, Tibi accused Netanyahu of being the region's biggest supporter of terrorism, particularly violence committed by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank and Palestinian territories.

Although Eisenkot has ruled out including Arab-led parties in his coalition, the groups share a common political objective of removing Netanyahu from power, Al Jazeera's Odeh reported.

If Eisenkot fails to form a government within the allotted period, Herzog can nominate another candidate. Should that candidate also fail, a majority of lawmakers can recommend a third nominee, who would receive a final 14 days to form a government.

If all attempts fail, Israel will have to hold another election within 90 days, while Netanyahu remains in office as caretaker prime minister.