Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot is positioned to receive the first opportunity to form Israel’s next government after securing endorsements from 67 lawmakers, compared with 46 for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. President Isaac Herzog is due to announce his choice on Sunday. Those endorsements, however, do not necessarily translate into support for a government led by Eisenkot.
Yashar secured 21 seats in last month’s election, more than any other party outside Netanyahu’s camp. Neither the prime minister’s allies nor the opposition reached the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-member Knesset. Eisenkot’s four-party change bloc holds 48 seats, leaving it dependent on additional partners or an arrangement in which other parties abstain. Once granted the mandate, he would have 28 days to negotiate, with a possible 14-day extension at Herzog’s discretion.
One potential route involves cooperation with the ultra-Orthodox parties, longtime Netanyahu allies. United Torah Judaism, which holds seven seats, declined to recommend either candidate during consultations with Herzog. Its leaders linked their support to concessions on military conscription for Haredi men, including dropping sanctions against those who refuse to enlist. Its backing could give Eisenkot a plurality if the Arab parties at least abstained.
Avigdor Lieberman, whose Yisrael Beiteinu party belongs to the change bloc, signaled on Friday that he was willing to compromise with the Haredi parties, despite his longstanding opposition to them. But he also rejected a minority government. That position would require Eisenkot to secure support from both United Torah Judaism and Shas. Shas endorsed Netanyahu, and its leader, Aryeh Deri, has a close relationship with him. The party has given no indication that it plans to switch sides.
Such cooperation would also challenge campaign commitments. Every change-bloc leader pledged before the election to exclude the Haredi parties from government, while military conscription was a central campaign issue. Dan Illouz, an elected lawmaker from Lieberman’s party, has already opposed concessions on a conscription law. Eisenkot outlined a proposed national emergency government on Friday, with entry conditions including mandatory military or civilian service, recognition of Israel as Jewish and democratic, acceptance of its Declaration of Independence’s values, and recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization.
Another possibility involves Ra’am and the Joint List, which together won 19 seats. Ra’am previously joined the coalition that replaced Netanyahu in 2021. A potential arrangement would involve its active backing, alongside abstention or outside support from the Joint List. Lieberman, however, rejected any government dependent on the Arab parties. Without him, Eisenkot would need active support from both, creating further difficulties within his bloc. Eisenkot himself said in September that neither met his conditions for joining a government.
A unity coalition involving Netanyahu offers a third route, but the change-bloc leaders have rejected that prospect since the election. Eisenkot, Lieberman, Democrats leader Yair Golan and B’Yachad leader Naftali Bennett have all emphasized replacing Netanyahu or his government. A unity agreement would likely involve Netanyahu remaining prime minister initially under a rotation arrangement.
If Eisenkot receives the mandate but fails to assemble a coalition, another candidate could be given an opportunity, or Israel could face another election. Netanyahu would remain prime minister if no new government is formed and elections are called.
