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Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot formally launched his coalition-building effort as Israel's newly elected parliament took the oath of office.
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Swearing-In of Fractured Israeli Knesset Deepens Deadlock as Gadi Eisenkot Mounts Bid to Replace Benjamin Netanyahu
Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot formally launched his coalition-building effort as Israel's newly elected parliament took the oath of office. The anti-Netanyahu bloc is moving aggressively to seize key committee roles and the speaker's gavel to outmaneuver the incumbent prime minister.
- Gadi Eisenkot formally launched his bid to replace Benjamin Netanyahu as the newly elected 120-seat Knesset was sworn in.
- The anti-Netanyahu bloc nominated Matan Kahana for Knesset speaker to seize control of the legislative agenda.
- Avigdor Liberman was tapped to head the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee to project security strength.
- Eisenkot's path to a 61-seat majority relies on unprecedented outside support from Arab-majority parties.
Israel’s newly elected parliament took the oath of office on Tuesday in Jerusalem, opening a volatile legislative session defined by a direct challenge to Benjamin Netanyahu. Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot used the swearing-in ceremony to formally launch his coalition-building effort, declaring the incumbent prime minister incapable of leading the country.[1][3]
The 120-seat Knesset convenes with no single faction holding a clear majority, deepening a political deadlock that has paralyzed the national government. Netanyahu’s Likud party remains the largest single faction with 32 seats, but his traditional right-wing and religious alliance fell short of the 61 seats required to govern.[1][4]
"The current leadership is fundamentally unfit to guide Israel through its compounding security and domestic crises," Eisenkot told reporters outside the plenary hall on Tuesday. He emphasized that his mandate is to build a broad emergency government that restores institutional stability.[3]
To outmaneuver Netanyahu’s right-wing alliance, the opposition has already begun allocating powerful committee roles to secure swing votes. The Eisenkot-led bloc nominated Matan Kahana of the Yashar faction to serve as the new Knesset speaker, a critical position that controls the legislative agenda.[2]
In a parallel move designed to project security credentials, the coalition tapped Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman to head the influential Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. That appointment places a hawkish Netanyahu critic in charge of parliamentary oversight for military operations.[2]
Securing the Arab bloc
Eisenkot’s path to the required 61-seat majority relies heavily on unprecedented support from Arab-majority parties, who control 10 crucial seats and have historically remained outside formal governing coalitions. These factions have signaled their willingness to back the former military chief from the outside to ensure Netanyahu’s departure.[4][5]
The arrangement remains fragile, as Eisenkot must balance the demands of left-wing and Arab lawmakers with the hardline security postures of partners like Liberman. Arab faction leaders have demanded concrete commitments on civil equality and infrastructure funding in exchange for their crucial parliamentary backing.[1][5]
Netanyahu, who has dominated Israeli politics for much of the last 15 years, dismissed the swearing-in maneuvers as an illegitimate power grab. His Likud party retains a formidable bloc of seats and is actively attempting to peel away right-leaning defectors from Eisenkot’s fragile alliance.[1][3]
The political maneuvering occurs against the backdrop of severe regional tension, making the defense committee assignments particularly sensitive. Liberman’s installation at the defense panel is intended to reassure right-wing voters that an Eisenkot government relying on Arab support will not soften its military posture.[2][5]
The battle for the speaker
Control of the Knesset speaker’s gavel represents the first major test of Eisenkot’s coalition math. Replacing the incumbent Likud-aligned speaker with Kahana would allow the opposition to fast-track legislation aimed at preventing indicted politicians from forming a government.[1][2]
Kahana, a former religious affairs minister, brings religious Zionist credentials that Eisenkot hopes will insulate the bloc from right-wing criticism. The vote for the speakership is expected within the week and will serve as a definitive headcount for the anti-Netanyahu forces.[2]
If the opposition successfully installs Kahana, Netanyahu’s ability to stall the transition of power will be severely curtailed. A new speaker can control floor debates, schedule confidence votes, and block procedural delays that the incumbent prime minister has historically utilized to survive tight margins.[1][2]
"Seizing the speaker's chair is the prerequisite for everything else," a senior Yashar party official noted during the parliamentary reception. The official confirmed that negotiations over the remaining committee chairmanships are continuing around the clock in the Knesset backrooms.[1][2]
Netanyahu's counter-strategy
The incumbent prime minister is not conceding the transition, utilizing his caretaker status to project authority while his deputies work the phones. Likud negotiators are specifically targeting members of Kahana’s Yashar faction, warning them that partnering with left-wing and Arab parties will destroy their political careers.[1][4]
Netanyahu’s strategy relies on running out the clock on Eisenkot’s 28-day presidential mandate to form a government. If Eisenkot fails to present a viable coalition by the early December deadline, the mandate could return to the Knesset or trigger yet another round of national elections.[4][5]
The deadlock has left government ministries operating on temporary budgets and delayed critical procurement decisions. Financial markets in Tel Aviv have shown signs of strain, with investors expressing concern over the prolonged absence of a fully empowered executive branch.[1][5]
International observers are closely monitoring the transition, as Israel’s next government will inherit complex diplomatic challenges, including stalled regional normalization efforts. Foreign diplomats stationed in Jerusalem have privately expressed a desire for a swift resolution to the parliamentary paralysis.[4][5]
The ticking constitutional clock
Eisenkot received the formal mandate to form a government on November 7, giving him a rapidly closing window to finalize the coalition agreements. His negotiating team has set an internal deadline of late next week to present the final cabinet roster to the president.[4][5]
The inclusion of Liberman in a central security role was one of the first finalized pieces of this puzzle. By locking in the Yisrael Beytenu leader and his 6 parliamentary seats early, Eisenkot secured a crucial bloc of secular right-wing votes that are mathematically essential for the threshold.[2][5]
However, the reliance on outside support from Arab-majority parties remains the coalition's most vulnerable pressure point. Likud campaign messaging has relentlessly attacked this arrangement, attempting to spark a public backlash that might frighten centrist lawmakers away from the final vote.[1][3]
The coming days will determine whether Eisenkot’s tactical parliamentary victories translate into a durable executive government. The 2026 swearing-in ceremony marked the end of the election phase and the beginning of a brutal legislative trench war over the shape of Israel's future leadership.[1][4]
A fractured mandate
Even if Eisenkot successfully swears in a cabinet, his government will face the constant threat of collapse over minor policy disagreements. The ideological distance between his right-wing security partners and his left-wing domestic backers means every major vote will require exhaustive renegotiation.[1][5]
For now, the shared objective of removing Netanyahu is providing enough adhesive to hold the disparate factions together. Lawmakers from across the anti-Netanyahu spectrum spent Tuesday projecting unity, taking group photographs in the Knesset corridors and issuing coordinated statements of purpose.[1][3]
The urgency of the coalition talks is compounded by the looming expiration of several temporary security directives that require parliamentary renewal. Without a functioning defense committee, the military faces administrative hurdles in extending emergency deployments and approving classified budget transfers for the upcoming fiscal quarter.[2][4]
Eisenkot’s military background—having served as the Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff from 2015 to 2019—is central to his pitch to the Israeli public. His own faction holds just 12 seats, forcing him to build a coalition that spans the entire ideological spectrum to reach the 61-vote minimum.[3][5]
Sources
- [1]The Guardian — Israeli opposition hurries to seize control as new Knesset is sworn in Read on The Guardian →
- [2]The Jerusalem Post — Eisenkot-led bloc taps Yashar's Kahana for Knesset speaker, Liberman to head key defense panel Read on The Jerusalem Post →
- [3]India Today — Gadi Eisenkot calls Benjamin Netanyahu unfit as Israel's new Knesset is sworn in Read on India Today →
- [4]Daily Sabah — Israel swears in new parliament as Eisenkot attempts to form govt Read on Daily Sabah →
- [5]CNN — Netanyahu rival tasked with forming next Israeli government. But the path remains complicated. Read on CNN →
What to watch
- Eisenkot has a 28-day window to assemble a governing coalition, with a possible 14-day extension.
- The election outcome will heavily influence Israel's post-war economic reforms and its diplomatic relations with the US and Europe.
- Eisenkot must navigate resistance from potential coalition partners over reliance on Arab-majority parties and disagreements regarding military draft exemptions.
Where things stand
Netanyahu Calls for Unity Government Under His Leadership as Eisenkot Begins Coalition Talks
Key point: Benjamin Netanyahu has called for a unity government under his leadership, refusing to abandon his right-wing allies as rival Gadi Eisenkot begins efforts to form a coalition.
The parliamentary math required to reach the 61-seat threshold for a governing coalition.From: Swearing-In of Fractured Israeli Knesset Deepens Deadlock as Gadi Eisenkot Mounts Bid to Replace Benjamin Netanyahu Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has renewed his call for a national unity government, insisting he must lead the coalition and retain his ultra-Orthodox allies. The appeal came in a video statement on Monday, a day after President Isaac Herzog formally tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming the next government.
Netanyahu argued that his Likud party, which won 27 seats in the October 27 election compared to 21 for Eisenkot's Yashar party, should head the government. While extending an invitation to parties outside his right-wing bloc and declaring "enough boycotts," Netanyahu ruled out surrendering the premiership or abandoning his current political partners. He insisted that any coalition must include all Zionist and ultra-Orthodox factions. Earlier reports suggested Netanyahu was open to a unity arrangement with Eisenkot, proposing that US President Donald Trump and Herzog could serve as guarantors.
The renewed push for a unity government comes as Netanyahu's options narrow following his failure to secure a parliamentary majority. Eisenkot received endorsements from 67 of the 120 Knesset lawmakers during presidential consultations, while Netanyahu secured 46, and seven declined to recommend either candidate. Eisenkot now has 28 days to assemble a governing coalition, with a possible 14-day extension. If successful, the new government would end Netanyahu's tenure as Israel's longest-serving premier.
Despite holding the mandate, Eisenkot faces significant hurdles in forming a government. He has called for a national emergency government, urging parties to overcome their political divisions. However, his efforts have met resistance from potential coalition partners over a potential reliance on Arab-majority parties, which won 19 seats, and disagreements regarding military draft exemptions sought by ultra-Orthodox factions.
Earlier updates
1 update
Israeli Opposition Leaders Back Gadi Eisenkot to Form Next Government
Key point: Israeli opposition leaders have united to recommend former military chief Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government following inconclusive elections.
Knesset recommendations following the 2026 general election.From: Arab-Majority Parties Back Gadi Eisenkot to Form Israeli Government Israel's main opposition leaders have agreed to recommend former military chief Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government, aiming to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The leaders of the anti-Netanyahu bloc met in Herzliya on Tuesday and pledged to establish a national emergency government.
The agreement follows the October 27 elections, which left neither Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition with the 61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority. Eisenkot's bloc secured 48 seats compared to Netanyahu's 53, making the support of Arab-majority parties potentially decisive in securing a mandate from President Isaac Herzog.
Eisenkot, who leads the Yashar party and served as Israel Defense Forces chief of staff from 2015 to 2019, has ruled out forming a coalition with Netanyahu. In a recent statement, Eisenkot emphasized that Netanyahu lacks a majority and that the opposition bloc intends to repeal laws they believe threaten democracy.
3 updates
Israeli exit polls show no clear majority amid record 77.7% voter turnout
Key point: Exit polls from Israel's general election project a political deadlock, with neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor challenger Gadi Eisenkot securing a clear majority despite the highest voter turnout since 1999.
Initial exit polls from the Israeli general election indicate a political deadlock with no clear winner emerging. The bloc led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to be losing ground, while challenger Gadi Eisenkot's coalition is also projected to fall short of a clear majority.
The tight race was marked by a record voter turnout of 77.7 percent, the highest participation rate the country has seen since 1999. Exit polls released at 10:00 p.m. local time showed a narrow edge for Eisenkot, a former military chief of staff seeking to unseat the long-serving prime minister.
The final balance of power may hinge on smaller factions navigating the deadlock. Projections suggest that Naftali Bennett's B'Yachad party could secure 12 to 13 seats in the next Knesset, potentially positioning him as a key power broker in forming a coalition government.
Vote Count Denies Netanyahu and Opponents a Majority in Israeli Election
Key point: Neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor his opponents have secured a clear majority with over 60% of the vote counted, plunging Israel into political uncertainty.
With more than 60% of ballots tallied, Israel's election remains deadlocked as neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor his opponents have secured a clear parliamentary majority. The ongoing count by the Central Elections Committee confirms earlier projections of a stalemate, leaving the path to a governing coalition highly uncertain.
Despite the lack of a decisive victory, both Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot have publicly vowed to form the next government. The rival camps traded barbs in their respective speeches after the polls closed, setting the stage for intense and potentially protracted coalition negotiations.
The political gridlock follows a highly contested election marked by a record 77.7% voter turnout. Exit polls initially indicated a tie between the blocs led by Netanyahu and Eisenkot, reflecting a deeply divided electorate and a potential rebuke of the current coalition.
Netanyahu Falls Short of Majority as Rivals Seek Arab Coalition
Key point: With Netanyahu's bloc lacking a majority, his opponents must decide whether to partner with Arab parties to form a government.
AIFormer IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot has secured 67 recommendations to form Israel's next government.From: Arab-Majority Parties Back Gadi Eisenkot to Form Israeli Government As the vote count progresses in Israel's election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc is projected to fall short of a parliamentary majority. With over 84% of ballots counted, his opponents are now exploring a potential coalition with Arab-majority parties to form a new government.
Partial results give Netanyahu's right-wing and religious allies 53 seats, while the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party holds 48. The two Arab-led parties, Ra'am and the Joint List, are projected to win a combined 19 seats in the 120-seat Knesset following a historic surge in Arab voter turnout. Opposition leaders face a dilemma over whether to reverse their pledges not to rely on Arab lawmakers to secure the 61 seats needed to oust Netanyahu.
3 updates
Israelis Cast Ballots in Tightly Contested Election Deciding Netanyahu's Fate
Key point: Voters in Israel are heading to the polls for a pivotal general election that will decide whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu retains power amid ongoing regional conflicts.
Israelis are casting their ballots in a highly consequential general election on Tuesday to determine the political future of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Voters are heading to polling stations across the country to elect the 120 members of the Knesset.
The election serves as a major referendum on Netanyahu's leadership following the October 2023 Hamas-led attacks and the subsequent multi-front wars involving Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. Pre-election polls indicate a tight race between Netanyahu's right-wing bloc and the opposition, with neither side guaranteed to secure the 61-seat majority required to form a new government.
Netanyahu Touts Trump Endorsement as Israelis Cast Ballots in Pivotal Election
Key point: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leveraging a recent endorsement from Donald Trump to rally support as Israelis vote in a highly contested election.
As Israelis head to the polls for a highly contested election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heavily promoting a recent endorsement from former US President Donald Trump. Netanyahu has cited Trump's backing to rally voters as they cast their ballots in the pivotal race.
Trump reiterated his support for the Israeli leader in the days leading up to the election, urging the United States and Israel to finish the job. The public endorsement followed reported efforts by Netanyahu to secure additional backing from the former president ahead of Tuesday's tight vote.
Tuesday's vote is the first election in Israel since the Hamas-led attacks of October 2023. Netanyahu is navigating a tight race shaped by three years of war and intensifying political divides across the country.
Exit polls project no clear winner in Israeli election
Key point: Initial exit polls from Israel's national election indicate a political deadlock with no clear winner emerging.
AIUS President Donald Trump issued a formal endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the October 27 election.From: US President Donald Trump Endorses Benjamin Netanyahu Nine Days Before Israeli Election Exit polls released following the conclusion of voting in Israel's national election on Tuesday indicate that no clear winner has emerged. The initial projections suggest a political deadlock, leaving the outcome of the high-stakes race uncertain.
While the anti-Netanyahu bloc appears to be leading in the projections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party remains the single largest party. The tight margins mean the final balance of power will depend heavily on the official vote count.
The tightly contested vote marks Israel's first general election since the October 7 attacks. The final results will determine the country's future leadership and political direction amid a deeply divided electorate.
1 update
Tens of Thousands Rally in Tel Aviv for Oct. 7 State Inquiry Days Before Election
Key point: Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv to demand an independent state inquiry into the October 7 attacks ahead of the upcoming general election.
AIIllustration: Voters cast their ballots across Israel on Tuesday in the country's first general election since the October 7 attacks.From: Israelis Vote in First Post-October 7 General Election Amid Referendum on Netanyahu Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening, just days before the general election, to demand a state commission of inquiry into the failures surrounding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. The rally, organized by the October Council, brought together bereaved families, former hostages, and survivors at Hostages Square.
Opposition leaders, including Gadi Eisenkot, Avigdor Liberman, and Yair Golan, attended the demonstration. Ahead of the event, organizers sent an urgent letter to the police warning of potential disruptions by pro-government activists, urging law enforcement to prevent provocations from overshadowing their call for answers.
The protest serves as a final major public event before the closely fought election, which is widely viewed as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu has consistently refused to establish an independent state inquiry, instead proposing a politically appointed commission that opposition figures have rejected.
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How the story developed
The campaign for the 26th Knesset elections began with legal battles over ballot access. On September 26, Israel's Central Elections Committee voted 18-5 to disqualify the Ra'am party, the Joint List, and individual lawmakers Sami Abu Shehadeh and Ofer Cassif from the October 27 vote, while rejecting a petition to ban National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit party. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara opposed the blanket bans. On October 4, the Supreme Court unanimously restored Ra'am and the Joint List to the ballot and voted 7-2 to reinstate Cassif. Abu Shehadeh withdrew his candidacy after the court indicated a majority favored upholding his individual ban.
In the final weeks of the campaign, political realignments and international interventions shaped the race. On October 18, US President Donald Trump formally endorsed Netanyahu, though Vice President JD Vance declined to do the same. Two days later, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held an undisclosed meeting with Netanyahu in Israel amid bilateral discussions regarding potential military operations against Iran. Domestically, former defense minister Benny Gantz withdrew his National Unity faction from the election on October 19 after polling showed the party failing to cross the 3.25 percent electoral threshold, preventing the anti-Netanyahu bloc from wasting votes. On October 25, tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv to demand an independent state inquiry into the October 2023 attacks.
Polling stations opened on October 27 for the first national vote since the 2023 attacks, with more than 7.2 million eligible voters. The election saw a record 77.7 percent voter turnout, the highest since 1999. Initial exit polls and subsequent vote counts on October 28 revealed a political deadlock, denying both Netanyahu and his opponents a clear majority.
Following the vote, Netanyahu made claims of widespread voter fraud, which Israel's election commission dismissed on November 4 when it ratified the final results. President Isaac Herzog accepted the certified results as legally binding on November 5 and rebuked far-right lawmakers over the unsubstantiated fraud claims. Netanyahu's bid to form a government stalled when the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party declined to endorse him.
Opposition leaders united to back Eisenkot. On November 5, the Arab Joint List and Ra'am officially recommended Eisenkot to form the next government, describing the move as a pragmatic necessity to block a hard-right nationalist coalition. This gave Eisenkot the backing of 67 lawmakers, surpassing the 61-seat threshold required for a majority. On November 8, President Herzog formally tasked Eisenkot with forming a new coalition government.