Eisenkot receives mandate and calls on Likud and Religious Zionism to join his government

In depth

President Isaac Herzog gave the task of forming a government to Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot. The decision was made after parties with 67 Knesset members recommended Eisenkot, compared with 46 who recommended Benjamin Netanyahu. A party with seven Knesset members abstained from recommending anyone, and United Torah Judaism did not recommend any candidate.

The mandate handover took place at the President's residence in Jerusalem. At the ceremony, Eisenkot said: "This is the time to establish a national emergency government. I will do everything so that we are worthy", and called on Likud and Religious Zionism to join a government under his leadership. He added: "Whoever tries to sabotage the formation of the government for personal rather than substantive reasons will be remembered in history". Herzog said that "the challenges facing the State of Israel are enormous" and called for unity.

Eisenkot has 28 days to form a government, and the president is authorized to grant him an extension of up to 14 days. According to Eisenkot, "we will all need to make compromises". Coalition negotiations are continuing, including with United Torah Judaism and with Liberman, and ahead of the swearing-in of the 26th Knesset, a struggle over the identity of the Knesset speaker is also underway.