Jerusalem — Herzog Taps Eisenkot to Try to Form Israeli Government

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has given Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, the first shot at forming a new government after the October 27 election left no political bloc with a majority in the Knesset, according to Al Jazeera. Here is what that means for Israelis watching the clock this week, told through the numbers driving the process.

How many days does Eisenkot have to build a coalition?

Herzog's mandate gives Eisenkot 28 days to assemble a government, with the possibility of a 14-day extension if talks are close but not finished, Al Jazeera reported November 8. That puts the outside deadline at 42 days from the mandate date. If Eisenkot cannot reach a majority inside that window, Herzog is expected to hand the mandate to an alternative leader — most likely Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — to attempt the same task, according to the report.

What happens if neither leader can form a government?

If a second attempt at forming a government also fails, Israel would head back to the polls for new elections, Al Jazeera reported. That outcome would extend a stretch of political uncertainty that has already run through one inconclusive vote on October 27.

Who is Gadi Eisenkot and why was he chosen?

Eisenkot is a former Israeli military chief of staff who became leader of the opposition bloc only days before the October 27 election, according to Al Jazeera. The outlet described the coalition's messaging in the run-up to the vote as "confused, contradictory and seemingly absent of any central coordinating figure" until Eisenkot's emergence. Observers quoted by Al Jazeera described him as less comfortable than Netanyahu with political maneuvering, a trait that could help or hurt him depending on how talks with smaller parties unfold over the coming weeks.

What do the ultra-Orthodox parties want in exchange for support?

Eisenkot is unlikely to reach a majority on his own and may need backing from at least one of the two ultra-Orthodox parties in the Knesset, Al Jazeera reported. One of them, United Torah Judaism, has already broken from its traditional ally Shas by declining to endorse Netanyahu. According to the report, any support from United Torah Judaism is likely to come in exchange for continuing what Al Jazeera described as the "de facto shield" that lets young ultra-Orthodox men avoid military service — a long-running flashpoint in Israeli politics.

What would Arab parties ask for before backing Eisenkot?

Parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel could offer support from outside a governing coalition, but Al Jazeera reported that cooperation would likely hinge on two conditions: a real effort to address rising violent crime in Palestinian communities inside Israel, and an end to what the outlet called settler violence in the occupied West Bank. Al Jazeera reported that wave of settler violence has continued with what it described as the active encouragement of government partners Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, both far-right ministers under Netanyahu.

Timeline: how Israel got here

• October 27, 2026 — Israel holds elections that leave no bloc with a Knesset majority, Al Jazeera reported.
• Days before October 27 — Eisenkot becomes leader of the opposition bloc after what Al Jazeera described as a leaderless and disorganized coalition effort.
• November 8, 2026 — Herzog formally tasks Eisenkot with trying to form a government, starting the 28-day clock, according to Al Jazeera.
• Within 28 days (plus a possible 14-day extension) — Eisenkot must secure enough Knesset support to form a coalition or the mandate could pass to Netanyahu.
• If a second attempt fails — New elections would be called, Al Jazeera reported.

For now, the math is the story. Eisenkot needs votes from parties with conflicting demands — ultra-Orthodox factions seeking to preserve draft exemptions, and Arab-led parties seeking action on crime and settler violence — inside a window that could close in as little as 28 days or stretch to 42. Whether he can hold that coalition together, or whether the mandate reverts to Netanyahu, will shape Israeli politics for the rest of the year, according to Al Jazeera's reporting.

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