Jerusalem:Israeli President Isaac Herzog has officially assigned Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot with the responsibility of forming the country's next government, following the inconclusive results of the recent elections. Despite receiving 67 recommendations, Eisenkot faces hurdles as the parties that endorsed him have not yet agreed to govern together.
According to Anadolu Agency, the election on October 27 left both Eisenkot's opposition camp and caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc without a parliamentary majority. The Israeli law permits up to three attempts to form a government, failing which another election is triggered. A minority government remains a possibility if it can secure parliamentary confidence.
Eisenkot's recommendations came from Jewish-led opposition parties with 48 seats and Arab parties with 19 seats. However, these endorsements do not obligate the parties to join his government or support his negotiated coalition. Most leaders in Eisenkot's camp, as well as Netanyahu's bloc, which has 53 seats, are against forming agreements with Arab parties, necessitating external cooperation to achieve a majority coalition.
Netanyahu's lower recommendation count of 46 was due to the seven-seat United Torah Judaism party's decision not to endorse any candidate, resulting from a dispute over military-service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox seminary students. The main challenge lies in forming an agreement among parties willing to govern together, rather than the number of recommendations received.
Under the Basic Law The Government, Eisenkot has a 28-day period to establish a government, with potential extensions of up to 14 days granted by Herzog. Should Eisenkot fail, Herzog has three days to nominate another lawmaker or pass the process to parliament. A second nominee would have 28 days without extensions. If this also fails, parliament has 21 days to propose a candidate, who then has 14 days to form a government, also without extension.
A minority government could potentially assume office with less than 61 seats, through external support or abstentions enabling a confidence vote win. However, significant political cooperation, which is currently lacking among key parties, is necessary for such an arrangement.
If the final nomination stage is unsuccessful, or if the nominee cannot form a government or secure a confidence vote, the Knesset will be dissolved, prompting elections within 90 days. Parliament can also expedite the process by passing a dissolution law with a 61-member majority.
Netanyahu will continue as caretaker prime minister until a new government is established. He is currently on trial for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, and faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.