Israeli president taps Eisenkot to form government
The gist
Israeli President Isaac Herzog gave opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot the first chance to form a coalition.
Eisenkot has 28 days to reach 61 seats, with Netanyahu waiting if he fails.
How it unfolded
- Oct 27, 2026Israel held elections; neither Gadi Eisenkot nor Benjamin Netanyahu won a clear majority.
- Oct 28, 2026Eisenkot waved an Israeli flag onstage in Tel Aviv after the first exit poll results were released.
- Nov 7, 2026During consultations, 67 Knesset members recommended Eisenkot to form the government, while 46 recommended Netanyahu.
Key terms
- Knesset
- The unicameral legislature of Israel, with 120 seats.
- coalition
- A government formed by two or more political parties sharing executive power, usually when no party wins a majority.
- Likud
- A major right-wing political party in Israel, officially known as Likud – National Liberal Movement.
Source: Wikipedia