Bennett and Golan Back Eisenkot in Opposition's Bid to Form Government

Opposition factions are advancing a plan to form a minority government, potentially without a Knesset majority, with former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Democratic Party Chairman Yair Golan officially announcing their support for Gadi Eisenkot's candidacy for prime minister. Bennett's faction confirmed he informed Eisenkot of his decision, citing a campaign promise to respect the citizens' choice. Golan echoed this sentiment. This backing strengthens Eisenkot's position ahead of consultations with President Isaac Herzog, though forming a government remains challenging as the combined seats of "Yashar!", "Together," and "Democrats" fall short of a majority.

The opposition is exploring options for a minority government that would rely on external support from other parliamentary factions. Such a government could take office if opponents fail to gather enough votes to block its approval. A significant hurdle is the stance of Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, who has ruled out joining a government with Netanyahu or ultra-Orthodox parties, and also opposes a coalition dependent on Arab lists. Despite these constraints, the opposition is seeking a path to power that respects partners' public commitments, with cooperation from Arab parties not entirely excluded.

Drawing parallels to the formation of the Bennett-Lapid government after Operation Guardian of the Walls, where Ra'am's eventual support was initially deemed unlikely, the opposition sees potential in external support from Arab factions. The possibility of changing the Knesset speaker is also being discussed as a tactic to influence parliamentary dynamics before a cabinet is finalized. "United Torah Judaism" is also being considered as a potential partner, though no firm agreements are in place.

Recent meetings among opposition leaders have focused on coordinating their next steps. Golan discussed government formation prospects with Eisenkot and Yair Lapid, while Eisenkot and Bennett met at Bennett's home in Ra'anana, expressing intent to work towards a new government. Previously, Bennett and Eisenkot had discussed merging their parties before the election, with Bennett reportedly willing to take a secondary role. However, Eisenkot's camp anticipated a stronger independent showing, which they ultimately achieved, with their combined seats exceeding pre-election projections for a joint list.