Eisenkot Secures Majority of Knesset Recommendations for Prime Minister Role

President Isaac Herzog has concluded consultations for forming a new Israeli government, with Gadi Eisenkot receiving recommendations from 67 Knesset members, surpassing Benjamin Netanyahu's 46. Despite Eisenkot's numerical advantage, significant disagreements among potential coalition partners, including issues surrounding the ultra-Orthodox draft and cooperation with Arab parties, could complicate his path to premiership. The consultations involved all 12 parties elected to the 26th Knesset, with "Yahadut HaTorah" being the only party not recommending a candidate.

Netanyahu's "Likud" party, along with Shas, "Religious Zionism," "Otzma Yehudit," and "Zeut," backed his candidacy. Eisenkot garnered support from "Yisrael Beiteinu," "Democrats," Ra'am, the United Arab List, "Be'ahad," and "Yashar!". "Yahadut HaTorah," a traditional ally of Netanyahu, focused on legislative arrangements for exempting yeshiva students from IDF service, a key demand for their participation in a future coalition.

Disagreements surfaced during the presidential residence meetings concerning the ultra-Orthodox draft, cooperation with Arab parties, and alleged election irregularities. Minister Orit Struk of "Religious Zionism" opposed including Arab parties in the coalition, while Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf of "Otzma Yehudit" suggested requiring candidates to publicly recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization. "Zeut" leader Moshe Feiglin also raised concerns about potential vote manipulation, though election authorities have not confirmed these allegations.

Forming a government presents challenges for Eisenkot. "Yisrael Beiteinu" supports him but rules out participation with the United Arab List. The Arab bloc recommended Eisenkot to prevent Netanyahu's return, emphasizing they maintain fundamental disagreements with "Yashar!" and do not endorse his platform. Furthermore, ultra-Orthodox demands regarding yeshiva students' draft exemptions clash with the views of many of Eisenkot's supporters.

Following the October 27th elections, "Likud" emerged as the largest party with 27 seats, but Netanyahu's bloc lacked a majority. Eisenkot's supporting parties also fall short of the 61-seat majority without additional factions. The president must decide whom to task with forming a coalition by November 11th. The designated individual will have 28 days, extendable by 14, to form a government. Failure to do so could lead to a new mandate being given or, ultimately, the dissolution of the Knesset and new elections. Netanyahu will continue as caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed.