Israel’s Netanyahu on the Ropes After President Asks Opposition Leader to Form Next Government
michael 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could lose power after President Isaac Herzog selected opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to form the country’s next government.
Herzog announced on Saturday that Eisenkot, a former Israeli military chief and leader of the Yashar party, would receive the mandate to assemble a governing coalition.
The decision follows last month’s general election, in which Netanyahu’s Likud emerged as the largest individual party but his right-wing coalition failed to secure a parliamentary majority.
Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while Eisenkot’s opposition alliance secured 48.
Two Arab-led parties won another 19 seats.
During consultations with Herzog, 67 lawmakers recommended Eisenkot for prime minister, compared with 46 who backed Netanyahu.
Eisenkot, a former IDF commander and minister without portfolio in Netanyahu’s unity government, welcomed the decision.
“This is the time to establish a national emergency government,” he wrote on X. “I will do anything possible to prove us worthy.”
זו העת להקמת ממשלת חירום לאומית.
אעשה הכל כדי שנהיה ראוייםpic.twitter.com/18Q3eIE6g0
— Gadi Eisenkot – גדי איזנקוט (@gadi_eisenkot) November 7, 2026
Under Israeli law, Eisenkot will have 28 days to negotiate a governing coalition, with a possible 14-day extension if an outcome is likely.
However, his path to power remains complicated by disagreements among opposition parties over whether to rely on support from Arab lawmakers.
Several opposition factions have expressed objections to forming a government dependent on Arab-led parties, despite their endorsement of Eisenkot.
Netanyahu, who received the endorsement of President Trump in the run-up to the eleciton, has also called for a unity government as negotiations continue.
Donald Trump endorses Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for re-election. pic.twitter.com/HMELA01W1G
— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) October 18, 2026
The prime minister suffered another setback when United Torah Judaism, a longtime political ally, refused to support him during the presidential consultations.
If Eisenkot fails to secure a parliamentary majority, Herzog could give another lawmaker, potentially Netanyahu, an opportunity to form a government.
Should those efforts also fail, Israel could face another election to try and break the deadlock.
Netanyahu will remain in office in a caretaker capacity until a new government is sworn in.
The post Israel’s Netanyahu on the Ropes After President Asks Opposition Leader to Form Next Government appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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