Israel's president tasks Gadi Eisenkot with forming new government

Israeli President Isaac Herzog formally gave opposition politician Gadi Eisenkot the first chance to form the next government on Sunday evening. Eisenkot, a former Israeli military chief and leader of the centre-right Yashar party, is trying to assemble a coalition that would remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to The Independent, Eisenkot has 28 days to form a government, with a potential 14-day extension. France 24 described the period as six weeks. Neither Eisenkot nor Netanyahu won a clear majority in the October elections, and Eisenkot needs 61 seats for a parliamentary majority.

Of the lawmakers who made recommendations, 67 endorsed Eisenkot and 46 backed Netanyahu. Both Arab-majority lists endorsed Eisenkot; they won 19 seats in the elections. If Eisenkot fails, Herzog would offer the mandate to Netanyahu, and if that also fails, Israel will hold fresh elections.

The Independent listed Eisenkot's options as a power-sharing agreement with Netanyahu, support from Arab-led parties, or an agreement with ultra-Orthodox parties. His conditions for Arab-led parties joining a coalition include recognising Israel as a Jewish state and declaring Hamas a terrorist organisation. Yisrael Beiteinu, a partner of Eisenkot, has said it will not join a coalition with Arab-led parties.

Netanyahu called on Saturday night for a national unity government of all Zionist parties, and in a statement ruled out a coalition with Arab parties. On Sunday Eisenkot appealed to Netanyahu's Likud and to the far-right party of finance minister Bezalel Smotrich to join him.

Eisenkot said: "We are in a state of emergency, approaching a point of no return for the State of Israel." He also said: "We must form a national emergency government. This will require creative and unconventional political steps."

Herzog cited the possible threat of attack from Iran and the need to move towards peace in Gaza as key security issues for the next government. He said: "I hope with all my heart that whatever government is formed will lead to unity, connection and healing among all segments of our people — for our very existence depends on it, and we have only one country."

The Independent also reported that Trump suffered a defeat in the US midterm elections the previous week. Eisenkot said those elections prompted calls for the Trump administration to rethink its support of Israel. If he forms a coalition cabinet, he would replace Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister.