Herzog Tasks Eisenkot to Form Israel's Next Government, Passing Over Netanyahu

JERUSALEM — Israeli President Isaac Herzog told opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot on Saturday evening that he will task him with forming Israel's next government, passing over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opening the clearest path yet to ending the longest premiership in the country's history. Herzog will formally hand Eisenkot the mandate at a ceremony at the President's Residence in Jerusalem on Sunday at 5 p.m., giving the former army chief 28 days to assemble a majority coalition in the Knesset.

Key Points

• President Isaac Herzog will formally task Gadi Eisenkot with forming Israel's next government at a ceremony in Jerusalem on Sunday, November 8, at 5 p.m.
• Eisenkot will have 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to build a coalition holding at least 61 of the Knesset's 120 seats.
• In consultations after the October 27 general election, 67 lawmakers endorsed Eisenkot, against 46 for Benjamin Netanyahu.
• Eisenkot, a former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff and leader of the Yashar party, said: "It is time to form a national emergency government."
• Netanyahu remains in place as caretaker prime minister while Eisenkot tries to build a government.

What Happened

Herzog delivered the decision to Eisenkot on Saturday evening, November 7, 2026, after meeting both men in the formal consultations that follow every Israeli general election. The president's task is to identify the lawmaker with the best chance of forming a government, and the arithmetic pointed firmly at the opposition leader: 67 members of the Knesset recommended Eisenkot, while 46 recommended Netanyahu. The formal handover takes place at the President's Residence on Sunday at 5 p.m., and from that moment the 28-day clock starts.

Eisenkot's response was immediate. "It is time to form a national emergency government," he said, framing the task as a mission to build a broad government. For Netanyahu, the decision is a sharp reversal: he remains prime minister, but only in a caretaker capacity while the formation process runs its course.

Background: A Deadlocked Election

The decision follows the general election of October 27, 2026, in which neither side won a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. The final count left Netanyahu's bloc with 53 seats and the opposition bloc with 48, while Arab-led parties held 19 seats between them — the Joint List with 11 and Ra'am with 8. With 61 seats needed for a majority, no camp could govern alone.

Coalition talks began within days. Eisenkot met former prime minister Naftali Bennett to discuss forming a government "as quickly as possible", and held talks with Democrats chairman Yair Golan, the only opposition figure to publicly back involving Arab parties in a government of change. The new Knesset is due to be sworn in on November 10, and the election of its Speaker is expected to serve as an early test of where the balance of power lies.

Eisenkot Tasked to Form Government: The 28-Day Clock

The mandate gives Eisenkot 28 days to turn 67 recommendations into 61 votes on the floor of the Knesset, and the gap between those two numbers is the heart of his challenge. Recommending a candidate to the president costs a lawmaker little, while voting for that candidate's government is a binding commitment. Eisenkot must now convert expressions of support into signed coalition agreements, a process that also involves the division of ministries and agreements on policy and budgets.

Several paths have been sketched during the talks. A unity government drawing on both camps could command as many as 66 seats, while a minority government of the opposition bloc, with outside support from Arab parties, could reach 67 — the opposition's 48 seats plus Ra'am's 8 and the Joint List's 11. The "national emergency government" language points toward the broadest option, giving rival parties a way to join without appearing to surrender.

Reactions and Quotes

Eisenkot's own words on Saturday evening set the tone. "It is time to form a national emergency government," he said after Herzog told him he would receive the mandate. The decision was seen as a first step toward ending Netanyahu's tenure as Israel's longest-serving prime minister.

Herzog's choice also reflects the weight of the consultations: when 67 of 120 lawmakers recommend one candidate and 46 another, the mandate traditionally goes to the candidate with the strongest support. Attention now turns to the parties whose support Eisenkot still needs to lock down.

Why It Matters

The tasking matters because it is the first concrete step toward a transfer of power after an election that left the country without a clear winner. For more than a week, the result has been a set of numbers — 53, 48, 19 — with no government attached. The mandate converts those numbers into a process with a deadline, a named negotiator and a defined goal.

It also matters because of who Eisenkot is: a former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces who entered politics as a security figure, leading a Yashar party built around national unity. If he succeeds, Israel would be led by a prime minister whose authority rests on a military career and a promise of emergency government. For Netanyahu, the coming weeks will show whether the caretaker period is a pause before a comeback or the end of his time in office.

What Happens Next

The formal ceremony takes place on Sunday, November 8, at 5 p.m. at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, when Herzog will hand Eisenkot the mandate in person. From that moment, Eisenkot has 28 days to present a government to the Knesset, with a possible 14-day extension.

If he succeeds, his government will be sworn in and Netanyahu's caretaker period will end. If he fails, the mandate returns to the president, who may task another candidate or give the Knesset 21 days to agree on one of its own. If every route fails, Israel would face another election — a prospect Herzog has been working to avoid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Gadi Eisenkot?
A former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces and leader of the Yashar party. He led the opposition in the October 27, 2026 election and won the backing of 67 lawmakers.

Why did Herzog choose Eisenkot over Netanyahu?
After the election produced no majority, 67 lawmakers recommended Eisenkot in Herzog's consultations, against 46 for Netanyahu. The mandate traditionally goes to the candidate with the strongest support.

How long does Eisenkot have to form a government?
He has 28 days from receiving the mandate on Sunday, November 8, with a possible 14-day extension from the president.

What happens if Eisenkot fails to form a government?
The mandate returns to the president, who may task another candidate or give the Knesset 21 days to agree on one; if no government can be formed, Israel faces another election.

Is Netanyahu still prime minister?
Yes, as caretaker prime minister, with the powers of the role while the formation process runs, but without a fresh mandate from the Knesset.

Related: Eisenkot Wins Backing of 67 Lawmakers to Netanyahu's 46 in Israel Race, Israel Coalition Talks Begin as Eisenkot Meets Bennett After Deadlock and Israel Election Results: Netanyahu Leads With 54 Seats but No Majority.