President Taps Eisenkot to Form New Israeli Government

By דפנה ליאל

Translated & summarized from Mako by baba

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Hebrew · 15 newsrooms covering

President Isaac Herzog officially tasked Gadi Eisenkot with forming Israel's next government, following consultations where Eisenkot secured 67 recommendations. Eisenkot will have 28 days to form a government, with a potential extension. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video calling for national unity but also criticizing potential coalition partners. Eisenkot's party, Yisrael Beiteinu, dismissed Netanyahu's call as a "pathetic spin" and challenged him to join Eisenkot's proposed unity government.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

President Isaac Herzog has officially tasked Gadi Eisenkot with forming Israel's next government.
Eisenkot received recommendations from 67 Knesset members, surpassing Prime Minister Netanyahu's 47.
Eisenkot will have 28 days to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension.
Eisenkot stated his intention to form a national emergency government.
Prime Minister Netanyahu called for national unity while criticizing potential coalition partners.
Eisenkot's party called Netanyahu's unity call a "pathetic spin" and challenged him to join.

President Taps Eisenkot to Form New Israeli Government — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

President Isaac Herzog announced Saturday evening that he will task Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, with forming the next Israeli government. The decision followed consultations with Knesset faction representatives and further deliberations over the weekend. Eisenkot has been invited to the President's Residence for a special ceremony scheduled for Sunday evening, where the mandate will be formally bestowed.

Upon receiving the mandate, Eisenkot will have 28 days to assemble a new government, with a possible 14-day extension granted by the President. During the consultations, parties supporting Eisenkot garnered 67 Knesset members' recommendations, significantly more than the 47 who recommended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Eisenkot responded on social media, stating, "Now is the time to establish a national emergency government. I will do everything to ensure we are worthy." This comes after Prime Minister Netanyahu released a video urging national unity, though he also used the platform to criticize parties he accused of supporting terrorism and seeking to dismantle Israel. Netanyahu warned against a government dependent on those who wish to establish a Palestinian state and those who call IDF soldiers war criminals.

The Yisrael Beiteinu party sharply criticized Netanyahu's remarks, calling them a "pathetic spin." They accused Netanyahu of being the one who has consistently divided Israeli society and only now calls for unity because his tenure is ending. The party asserted that a national emergency government led by Eisenkot would adhere to four core principles, including recognizing Hamas as a terror organization and committing to its destruction. They challenged Netanyahu and the Likud party to publicly break ties with "extremists" and join Eisenkot's government if they genuinely seek unity.