Israel’s President Tasks Gadi Eisenkot with Forming New Government
Israel's president has tasked opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot with forming a new government, marking a setback for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This decision comes as neither candidate secured a clear majority in the recent election, and key parties have recommended…
Sioux Falls, SD, November 7, 2026 —
Jerusalem – Israel’s President Isaac Herzog has formally tasked opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot with the mandate to form a new government. This development represents a significant political shift and a setback for incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The decision follows a recent election in which neither Prime Minister Netanyahu nor any other major political bloc secured a clear parliamentary majority. The inability to form a stable governing coalition has led to prolonged political uncertainty in the country.
Sources indicate that key political parties involved in the government formation process have recommended Gadi Eisenkot to undertake the task of assembling a new cabinet. The specific number or names of these parties were not provided in the available information.
The mandate given to Eisenkot places the onus on him to negotiate with various factions to build a coalition that can command a majority in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. The success of these negotiations remains to be seen, as political alignments in the country are complex.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s party and its allies did not secure the necessary number of seats to form a government independently, leading to this point where an opposition figure is being given the opportunity to lead the formation efforts. Further details on the timeline for Mr. Eisenkot’s negotiations or the specific challenges he may face were not immediately available.
Story summarized from the original created by The Associated Press on www.npr.org, see more information here.
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