Will Eisenkot be able to form Israel’s next gov’t amid divided opposition?

What the report says

Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot has been given the first chance to try to form a government after President Isaac Herzog consulted party leaders following Israel’s October election, in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc lost its majority. Al Jazeera reported that Eisenkot, a former military chief and leader of the Yashar party, has 28 days to assemble a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension if needed.

The report says Eisenkot’s potential governing path is complicated by deep disagreements inside the opposition over national security, religion and policy toward the occupied Palestinian territory. His current alignment, including the Democrats, Bennett’s Together party and Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu, would still fall short of a majority. Arab-led parties Ra’am and the Joint List, which together hold 19 seats, have signaled support for his attempt, but Eisenkot has ruled out bringing them into his cabinet, and Lieberman has opposed a government dependent on their backing.

Netanyahu’s own coalition has dropped to 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, according to the article, while Eisenkot’s Yashar won 21 seats. Al Jazeera also noted that ultra-Orthodox parties could become pivotal, either by joining a coalition or by helping block one, though disputes over military conscription exemptions remain a major obstacle.

If Eisenkot fails, Herzog could then ask Netanyahu to try forming a government, and if no one succeeds after further rounds of negotiations, new elections could follow. The outcome matters because it could determine Israel’s next prime minister, the balance of power in parliament and future decisions on the economy, military service and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.