President Taps Eisenkot to Form Israel's Next Government

President Isaac Herzog announced Saturday evening that he will task Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the National Unity Party, with forming the next government. The president completed his consultations and invited Eisenkot to the President's Residence for the official mandate ceremony scheduled for Sunday at 5:00 PM. According to the President's Residence, factions representing 67 Knesset members recommended Eisenkot, while those with 46 members recommended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. One faction of seven members made no recommendation.

President Herzog held in-depth discussions with political figures, including Netanyahu and Eisenkot, informing them of his intention to assign the mandate to Eisenkot. Upon receiving the mandate, Eisenkot will have 28 days to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension granted by the president.

Eisenkot stated Friday afternoon his intention to form a "national emergency government" based on four principles: recognition of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, adherence to the Declaration of Independence, the obligation of military, national, and civil service, and designating Hamas as a terrorist organization whose power must be dismantled. He warned that anyone obstructing the government's formation for personal reasons would be remembered historically for failing to rise to the occasion.

Sources close to Netanyahu claim an envoy sent by the Prime Minister to explore a unity government with Eisenkot was "immediately rejected." The National Unity Party stated they were unaware of any such inquiry. While Netanyahu has not officially proposed a rotation in the premiership, his circle believes he would consider it if negotiations were to commence.

Netanyahu issued a public statement earlier Saturday calling for national unity, criticizing plans to form a government reliant on "supporters of terror" and "Islamists," which he argued would dismantle Israel from within. He urged the formation of a national unity government comprising all "national camp" and "Zionist parties" committed to preserving the country, warning against "national suicide."

Eisenkot responded to Netanyahu's call for unity by stating that Netanyahu, who he accused of consistently dividing Israeli society, only invoked unity when his tenure was nearing its end. Eisenkot criticized Netanyahu's past actions, including forming the government on October 7th with Itamar Ben-Gvir as senior minister, contrary to his own promises, and consistently working against unity governments from within.