Israel Faces Pivotal Political Week Amid Government Formation and Election Challenges
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
President Isaac Herzog will officially task Gadi Eisenkot with forming Israel's next government on Sunday, November 26th, initiating a crucial political week. Eisenkot has 28 days to build a coalition, with the Knesset set to be sworn in on November 28th. Disagreements persist within the "change bloc" over key appointments, while the Likud party plans to challenge the election results in court. The Haredi parties, particularly Shas, have shown potential openness to supporting a "change government" under certain conditions.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- President Herzog will task Gadi Eisenkot with forming Israel's government on Sunday, November 26th.
- The Knesset is scheduled for swearing-in on Tuesday, November 28th, with a new Speaker to be chosen later.
- The Likud party plans to appeal the election results, citing alleged voter mobilization apps.
- Avigdor Lieberman has signaled openness to negotiating with Haredi parties for government formation.
- Shas stated it will not block a "change government" if supported by United Torah Judaism.
President Isaac Herzog is set to officially task Gadi Eisenkot with forming a new government on Sunday, November 26th, marking the start of a critical political week. Eisenkot, a leader of the "change bloc" aiming to unseat Benjamin Netanyahu, has until December 24th to assemble a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension. The Knesset is scheduled to be sworn in on Tuesday, November 28th, with the election of a new Knesset Speaker planned for a week later, following agreement among the change bloc leaders.
Significant disagreements persist within the change bloc, particularly between Eisenkot and Avigdor Lieberman, regarding policy direction and the choice of Knesset Speaker. Lieberman supports Yair Lapid for the role, while Eisenkot currently opposes this. Efforts are underway to bridge these divides before the Knesset's swearing-in ceremony.
In a notable shift, Lieberman has signaled openness to negotiations with the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties, a move previously opposed by his Yisrael Beiteinu party. This change is driven by the difficulty in forming a government without broader support. Shas has indicated it would not obstruct a "change government" if it secures the backing of United Torah Judaism, according to reports.
Meanwhile, the Likud party is preparing a dramatic appeal to the District Court challenging the election results, citing alleged use of apps to encourage Arab voter turnout. This move follows Netanyahu's call for a unity government and his accusation that some intend to hastily swear in a government supported by "terror supporters." However, a "Voter Watch" report indicated Likud itself leads in complaints regarding app usage, with 32% of allegations, compared to 2% for Ra'am.
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