# Eisenkot gets first opportunity to form Israel’s next government

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/israels-president-formally-gives-eisenkot-the-first-chance-to-form-the-next-government/
- Published: 2026-11-08T18:18:35+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-09T00:30:33+00:00
- Original publisher: PBS NewsHour (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/israels-president-formally-gives-eisenkot-the-first-chance-to-form-the-next-government
- Topics: Government, Middle East, Politics, World

## Key points

- Herzog gave Eisenkot the first chance to form a government.
- Neither bloc won a clear Knesset majority.
- Arab-led parties could be pivotal, but cooperation is contentious.

## Summary

President Isaac Herzog has formally tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot with trying to form Israel’s next government, giving the former army chief the first chance to build a coalition after the election. The move is a setback for Benjamin Netanyahu, but it does not guarantee Eisenkot will become prime minister: neither bloc won a clear parliamentary majority, and coalition talks remain difficult.

Eisenkot has up to six weeks to secure support in the 120-seat Knesset, where 61 seats are needed for a majority. Arab-led parties made gains and may help him; Ra’am has pledged support, while the Joint List has offered backing from outside a coalition, an unprecedented step. Eisenkot’s partner Yisrael Beytenu opposes a coalition with Arab-led parties, and Eisenkot says prospective partners must accept Israel as a Jewish and democratic state and support military, national or civil service for all citizens.

## Coverage

- [PBS NewsHour: Eisenkot gets first opportunity to form Israel’s next government](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/israels-president-formally-gives-eisenkot-the-first-chance-to-form-the-next-government)
- [Al Jazeera: Jerusalem Daily: Eisenkot picked over Netanyahu to form government](https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/11/8/dnrbltn-261108-hegazyn-jerusalem_daily-081126?traffic_source=rss)
- [The Guardian: Gadi Eisenkot reaches out to Netanyahu allies as he strives to form government](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/nov/08/gadi-eisenkot-netanyahu-allies-form-israel-government)
- [France 24: Gadi Eisenkot receives mandate to form government](https://www.france24.com/en/gadi-eisenkot-receives-mandate-to-form-government)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.