President Herzog Expected to Task Gadi Eisenkot with Forming Government

President Yitzhak Herzog has concluded consultations with parliamentary factions following the 26th Knesset's largest party, Likud, recommending Benjamin Netanyahu as the next prime minister. However, Netanyahu secured only 46 recommendations, while Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, received support from 67 Knesset members. It is anticipated that President Herzog will preemptively task Eisenkot with forming the government, potentially early next week and possibly before the Knesset is sworn in, despite the official deadline being Wednesday, November 11th. This move could disadvantage the "change bloc" as the opposition's powers would be limited until a new Knesset speaker is elected, and the mandate's clock starts ticking immediately upon its granting. Arab party representatives have already demanded the election of a new Knesset speaker at the first parliamentary session. Eisenkot's control over the Knesset's organizational committee, and thus his ability to advance parliamentary initiatives, will cease when his mandate expires. Coalition negotiations are expected to be challenging, with Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, stipulating that ultra-Orthodox parties should not be part of any government including his party. Eisenkot faces a difficult balancing act, as the "change bloc" lacks a clear majority. Parties within the bloc may need to compromise on coalition partners or break campaign promises, or alternatively, seek a national unity government with Benjamin Netanyahu.