Opposition leader Eisenkot invited to form Israeli government after election deadlock
Correction and update: November 12, 2026
The earlier statement below that a change of government was almost certain was too strong. Receiving a mandate does not mean that a coalition has been agreed or a new prime minister has taken office. Negotiations remained unresolved when the new parliament was sworn in on November 10. Published reporting indicates that another election is one possible outcome if no workable government is formed. The earlier account is retained as an archive, not as the current position.
Israel's parliamentary election on the 27th of last month, held amid an Iran war running for more than eight months, ended without a majority for any bloc. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition won 53 seats, while the alliance led by former army chief and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot secured 48. Arab party alliances captured 19 seats.
With both the ruling and opposition alliances initially unwilling to form a coalition with the Arab parties, government formation remained deadlocked. In this situation, the Arab parties came forward to support the opposition alliance led by Eisenkot.
Following this, President Isaac Herzog invited Eisenkot to form a government, and Eisenkot has claimed the mandate to do so. He has been given 28 days, which can be extended by a further two weeks if needed.
The invitation makes a change of government in Israel all but certain and would end Netanyahu's long tenure at the head of the coalition, at a moment when the country remains engaged in the conflict with Iran.
