Israel’s President Taps Gadi Eisenkot to Try Forming a Government After Deadlocked Vote

President Isaac Herzog on Saturday chose former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strongest rival, to try to build a new coalition after the Oct. 27 election left neither man with a clear path. Arab party leaders nominated him first, giving him the most endorsements, even though he has refused to team up with them.

Election Results and Coalition Options

Likud won the most seats of any party with 27 in the 120 seat Knesset, but Netanyahu’s religious nationalist bloc took only 53, short of the 61 needed. Eisenkot’s Yashar party came second with 21, and his four party coalition holds 48. Two Arab parties won a record 19 seats.

Three Long Shot Paths

Analysts say his options are a minority government backed by Arab votes on key issues, a deal with ultra Orthodox parties he has shunned before, or a unity government with Netanyahu. All three look unlikely, and he has sworn not to serve alongside Netanyahu.

Who Is Gadi Eisenkot

Eisenkot, 66, entered politics in 2022 and briefly served in Netanyahu’s wartime cabinet before returning to the opposition, where he criticized the Gaza campaign. He is the son of Moroccan immigrants and would be the first Mizrahi prime minister. A son and two nephews were killed fighting in Gaza. He stresses his security record, including his “Dahiyeh doctrine” of disproportionate response from the 2006 Lebanon war, while also criticizing settler violence and opposing far right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.