Gadi Eisenkot

Rule Changes

Tasked by President Herzog on November 8 with forming a government; has until December 6, with a possible extension to December 20

President Isaac Herzog tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming a government on November 8, after 67 of the Knesset's 120 members recommended him. Eisenkot, a former army chief, has until December 6 to assemble a coalition, with a possible two-week extension.

Updated 3 hours ago

Rule Changes

Met Avigdor Liberman on November 9 and agreed to open talks with Shas and United Torah Judaism. Named Matan Kahana as the bloc's candidate for Knesset speaker on November 10.

Gadi Eisenkot and Avigdor Liberman met on November 9 and agreed to open talks with the ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism, with a softer military draft law on offer. They also agreed that a Yashar lawmaker, Matan Kahana, would be the bloc's candidate for Knesset speaker.

Updated Yesterday

Rule Changes

Herzog gave him the mandate on Nov. 8. He has 28 days to form a coalition and agreed with Lieberman to negotiate with ultra-Orthodox parties first.

President Isaac Herzog gave Gadi Eisenkot the mandate to form a government on Nov. 8, after 67 lawmakers recommended him and 46 backed Benjamin Netanyahu. The 26th Knesset was sworn in on Nov. 10. Eisenkot has 28 days to assemble a majority, with a possible 14-day extension.

Updated Yesterday

Force in Play

Running in October 27 national election; polls show tight race

Hebron's governor said Israeli forces withdrew from the city on November 2 after a 10-day siege, and that families forced from their homes could return, Al Jazeera reported. The withdrawal came after Israel blew up the homes of the two gunmen who killed two soldiers at a checkpoint and displaced almost 5,000 Palestinians.

Updated Nov 2

Force in Play

His opposition bloc won 48 seats; talks on replacing Netanyahu began, including contacts with Ra'am's Mansour Abbas

Blue and White finished withdrawing from the October 27 election on October 21, when every candidate on Benny Gantz's list signed resignation papers and the Central Elections Committee confirmed the party will not compete. Its ballot slips, printed with the letters "Ken," will not be handed out and are marked with an X on polling-station posters. Any slips found during the count, including at military and overseas polling stations, will be ruled invalid.

Updated Oct 30

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Welcomed Bennett-Lapid merger; has not committed to joining Together

Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, former Israeli prime ministers, briefly removed Benjamin Netanyahu from power in 2021. On April 26, they announced a merger of their parties into a slate called 'Together, Led by Bennett.' Netanyahu responded within hours. He posted a video showing the pair's 2021 coalition-signing ceremony with Arab party leader Mansour Abbas, captioned 'They did it once, they will do it again.'

Updated May 31