Gadi Eisenkot Tasked With Forming New Israeli Government
President Isaac Herzog mandates Gadi Eisenkot to form Israel's next government after legislative elections. Netanyahu remains as caretaker PM.
In a pivotal shift for the nation's political landscape, Israeli President Isaac Herzog has formally announced that Gadi Eisenkot, the chairman of the Yashar party, has been tasked with the mandate to form the next government. This decision comes after a series of consultations following the legislative elections held on October 27, 2026, where Eisenkot's centrist movement emerged as a powerful force.
The Numbers Behind the Mandate
The President's decision was driven by the clear preference of the Knesset members. Gadi Eisenkot secured the recommendations of 67 members, significantly outpacing the incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who received 46 recommendations.
Interestingly, not every party took a side. The United Torah Judaism faction, which holds seven seats in the parliament, chose to remain neutral, declining to recommend either candidate for the premiership.
From Military Chief to Political Leader
Gadi Eisenkot is no stranger to leadership, though his current arena is political rather than tactical. Having served as the chief of staff of the Israeli military from 2015 to 2019, Eisenkot transitioned into politics by founding the Yashar party in September 2025. His gamble paid off during the October elections, where his party secured 21 seats.
The formal handover of the mandate is scheduled to take place during a ceremony at the President's Residence in Jerusalem on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
The Road to a Coalition
Securing the mandate is only the first step. Under the Basic Law: The Government, Eisenkot now faces the challenging task of building a stable coalition. He has a statutory window of 28 days to negotiate agreements and secure a majority of at least 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset.
Should the negotiations prove difficult, President Herzog holds the legal authority to grant an extension of up to 14 additional days to help finalize the coalition.
Netanyahu's Role and the Path Ahead
While the mandate has moved to Eisenkot, Benjamin Netanyahu will not exit the scene immediately. He will continue to lead a caretaker government until the new coalition is successfully formed and officially sworn in.
Netanyahu has publicly advocated for the creation of a "national unity government" that would include his current allies. However, political analysts point out that Eisenkot's path to a stable majority remains complex, given the diverse and often conflicting interests of the potential coalition partners he must now bring together.