Herzog tasks Gadi Eisenkot, not Netanyahu, with forming Israel's next government; Netanyahu had called for a national unity government
President Isaac Herzog chose Gadi Eisenkot, recommended by 67 lawmakers, over Benjamin Netanyahu, recommended by 46, to try to form Israel's next government. Netanyahu had urged a national unity government; Eisenkot called for a national emergency government.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
On November 7, 2026, Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced that he would task Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot with forming the next government. Factions totaling 67 members of the incoming 120-seat Knesset, including the two Arab-led lists, had recommended Eisenkot, and factions totaling 46 had recommended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hours before the announcement, Netanyahu called in a recorded video for a national unity government that would include his bloc and warned against swearing in a government with what he called supporters of terrorism. Eisenkot said it was time to form a national emergency government.
Read the full background
Israel held a Knesset election on October 27, 2026. Netanyahu's Likud won 27 seats and Eisenkot's Yashar won 21. Netanyahu's bloc won 53 of the 120 seats, the four Jewish-led parties opposing him won 48 and the Arab-led parties won a record 19, so neither bloc reached the 61 seats needed for a majority.
Herzog held consultations with every faction on November 4 and 5. Likud, Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit, Shas and Zehut recommended Netanyahu. Yashar, Together, the Democrats, Yisrael Beytenu, Ra'am and the Joint List recommended Eisenkot, and United Torah Judaism recommended no one. Herzog then said the results appeared clear on the surface but that the law required him to examine whether a government could be formed, given the mutual disqualifications between and within the blocs. He met Netanyahu and Eisenkot before announcing his decision.
Under Israeli law Eisenkot has 28 days to form a government, and Herzog can extend that by up to 14 days. If he fails, Herzog can give another lawmaker the task, and Netanyahu remains caretaker prime minister until a new government wins the Knesset's confidence. Eisenkot's bloc and the Arab-led parties have said they want Netanyahu replaced, though most of the Jewish-led opposition parties pledged before the election not to rely on the Arab parties. The formal mandate ceremony was set for 5 p.m. on November 8 at the President's Residence in Jerusalem.
As of the morning of November 8, we did not find a public response from Netanyahu or Likud to the announcement itself.
People in this case
- Isaac HerzogDirectly involved
Gadi EisenkotDirectly involved
Benjamin NetanyahuDirectly involved
Ahmad TibiCommented
Timeline
3 timeline entries on this page. Dates: November 5, 2026 to November 7, 2026
November 2026
Herzog completes consultations as Eisenkot gets 67 recommendations and Netanyahu 46
President Isaac Herzog completed two days of consultations with the factions elected to the Knesset. Factions totaling 67 members recommended Gadi Eisenkot and factions totaling 46 recommended Benjamin Netanyahu, while United Torah Judaism recommended no one. Herzog said the results appeared clear on the surface but that he had to examine whether a government could be formed, and that he would announce his decision on Sunday.
[01]President Herzog completes consultations with the Knesset factions (Office of the President of Israel)
English-language post by the Office of the President of Israel on the last meetings of the consultations on November 5 and Herzog's announcement that he intended to task a Knesset member with forming a government the following Sunday.
[02]Ynet News
Ynet News report on the end of Herzog's consultations with the Knesset factions on November 5, listing which parties recommended Eisenkot and which recommended Netanyahu, Herzog's statement that he would decide on Sunday, and remarks by the Yashar and Likud delegations, translated into English.
Eisenkot leads Netanyahu 67-46, but Herzog delays mandate decision until Sunday · Ynet NewsArticle textNetanyahu calls for a national unity government in a recorded address
Reaction
Netanyahu released a recorded video address calling for a national unity government that includes the parties of his national camp and other Zionist parties, and warning against a government that depends on parties he called supporters of terrorism. Eisenkot's Yashar party called it a hysterical speech.
[03]Ynet News
Ynet News report on Herzog's announcement that he would task Gadi Eisenkot with forming the government, including English translations of Netanyahu's recorded address calling for a national unity government and of the Yashar party's response to it.
After meeting Netanyahu, Herzog to task Eisenkot with forming government · Ynet NewsArticle text[04]Benjamin Netanyahu: national unity (video address in Hebrew)
Recorded video address in Hebrew posted on Benjamin Netanyahu's X account under the caption "National unity" about two and a half hours before the Office of the President announced its decision. In it Netanyahu calls for a national unity government and warns against a government that depends on parties he calls supporters of terrorism.
Benjamin Netanyahu: national unity (video address in Hebrew)Video, 0:00 to 2:28 (Hebrew)Herzog announces he will task Eisenkot with forming the government
The Office of the President announced that Herzog had decided to task Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot with forming the next government after meeting Netanyahu and Eisenkot, and invited Eisenkot to a mandate ceremony at the President's Residence on November 8 at 5 p.m. Eisenkot will have 28 days to form a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension.
[05]President Herzog decides to task Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot with forming the government (Office of the President of Israel, post in Hebrew)
Hebrew-language post by the Office of the President of Israel announcing that President Isaac Herzog decided to task Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot with forming the government. It says the decision followed the consultations with the Knesset factions and further talks, including meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Eisenkot, in which Herzog told them of his intention. It says factions totaling 67 Knesset members recommended Eisenkot, factions totaling 46 recommended Netanyahu and a seven-member faction recommended no one, and that the mandate ceremony was set for Sunday, November 8, at 17:00 at the President's Residence.
[06]NPR
NPR report on Herzog's decision to task Gadi Eisenkot with forming the government, with the Likud and Yashar seat totals from the October 27 election, the timetable for coalition talks and background on Eisenkot.
[07]CBS News
CBS News report, with Associated Press contributions, on Herzog's decision, the bloc seat totals, Netanyahu's video statement, the Yashar party's response and the position of the Arab-led parties.
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
5 responses. Newest first.
Ahmad TibiSenior Joint List lawmaker; the Joint List recommended EisenkotBefore this statement
Tibi, a senior member of the Joint List, which holds 11 seats, told Al Jazeera on November 7 that Herzog's decision was expected.
"We were concerned that the president would move towards a national unity government"
Defended or excusedCase context: Herzog tasks Gadi Eisenkot, not Netanyahu, with forming Israel's next government; Netanyahu had called for a national unity government
Full statement and sources
Tibi tells Al Jazeera that Herzog's decision was expected and that the Joint List had worried the president would move toward a national unity government.
After the statement
Tibi said the Arab-led parties' recommendations gave Eisenkot a considerable margin and that he believes Eisenkot is headed for a minority government with outside support from the Arab parties. Eisenkot has ruled out forming a government with the Arab-led parties.
Israel's president picks Eisenkot over Netanyahu to form next government · Al JazeeraArticle textWhy this label?
The reference point is President Herzog's decision to task Gadi Eisenkot, rather than Benjamin Netanyahu, with forming Israel's next government. Tibi, whose list recommended Eisenkot, calls the decision expected and says his concern had been that the president would steer toward a national unity government, which supports the course Herzog took.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Gadi EisenkotYashar party chairman, recommended by factions totaling 67 Knesset membersDirectly involvedBefore this statement
Herzog announced on the evening of November 7 that he would task Eisenkot with forming the next government. Factions totaling 67 Knesset members had recommended Eisenkot during the consultations, and factions totaling 46 had backed Netanyahu.
"Now is the time to form a national emergency government. I will do everything so that we are worthy. (Translated from Hebrew. Original: זו העת להקמת ממשלת חירום לאומית. אעשה הכל כדי שנהיה ראויים)"
Defended or excusedCase context: Herzog tasks Gadi Eisenkot, not Netanyahu, with forming Israel's next government; Netanyahu had called for a national unity government
Full statement and sources
In a post on X minutes after the President's office announced its decision, Eisenkot says it is time to form a national emergency government and that he will do everything so that they are worthy.
After the statement
The post carried a photo of Eisenkot and Herzog shaking hands at the President's Residence in Jerusalem. Eisenkot will have 28 days to form a coalition, and the president can extend that by up to 14 days.
Herzog to grant Eisenkot mandate to form Israel's next government · JNS (Jewish News Syndicate)Article textWhy this label?
The reference point is President Herzog's decision to task Gadi Eisenkot, rather than Benjamin Netanyahu, with forming Israel's next government. Eisenkot accepts the task and says he will use it to form a national emergency government, which supports the decision.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Benjamin NetanyahuPrime Minister of Israel and Likud chairman, recommended by factions totaling 46 Knesset membersDirectly involvedBefore this statement
In a recorded address, Netanyahu said it was a time for unity, that he had called for it during the election campaign and afterward, and that it was the will of the people. Ynet reports that he claimed Eisenkot intended to establish a government as early as the coming week that would rely on Arab parties.
"Already this coming week, there are those who intend to hurriedly swear in a government with supporters of terrorism"
CondemnedCase context: Herzog tasks Gadi Eisenkot, not Netanyahu, with forming Israel's next government; Netanyahu had called for a national unity government
Full statement and sources
In a recorded video address released hours before the President's office announced its decision, Netanyahu says some intend to hurriedly swear in a government with supporters of terrorism and calls instead for a national unity government that includes the parties of his national camp.
After the statement
Netanyahu called for a national unity government that includes all the parties of the national camp and all the Zionist parties that want to protect the country. Eisenkot's Yashar party called the address a hysterical speech and said Likud and its partners were welcome to join a government under Eisenkot if they broke their alliance with what Yashar called the extremists.
After meeting Netanyahu, Herzog to task Eisenkot with forming government · Ynet NewsArticle textBenjamin Netanyahu: national unity (video address in Hebrew)Video, 0:00 to 2:28 (Hebrew)Why this label?
The reference point is President Herzog's decision to task Gadi Eisenkot, rather than Benjamin Netanyahu, with forming Israel's next government. In a video released hours before the announcement, Netanyahu argues against a government he says Eisenkot intends to form with the backing of Arab parties and calls instead for a national unity government that includes his own bloc. That rejects the course the decision opens, though he does not mention Herzog.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Yoav KischIsrael's education minister, speaking for the Likud delegation at the President's consultationsBefore this statement
Likud, Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit, Shas and Zehut recommended Netanyahu at the consultations, while Yashar, Together, the Democrats, Yisrael Beytenu, Ra'am and the Joint List recommended Eisenkot, giving him 67 recommendations to Netanyahu's 46.
"We know who cannot do it. A government whose very existence depends on supporters of terrorism who reject the existence of a Jewish state as we know it"
CondemnedCase context: Herzog tasks Gadi Eisenkot, not Netanyahu, with forming Israel's next government; Netanyahu had called for a national unity government
Full statement and sources
Speaking for the Likud delegation at President Herzog's consultations, Kisch warns against a government whose existence depends on what he calls supporters of terrorism and says Likud is the largest party in Israel.
After the statement
Kisch added that Likud is the largest party in Israel and that Israel must keep working against the threats posed by Iran's nuclear program and the establishment of a Palestinian state. After the consultations, Herzog said he would announce on Sunday whom he would task with forming the government.
Eisenkot leads Netanyahu 67-46, but Herzog delays mandate decision until Sunday · Ynet NewsArticle textWhy this label?
The reference point is President Herzog's decision to task Gadi Eisenkot, rather than Benjamin Netanyahu, with forming Israel's next government. At the consultations that preceded the decision, Kisch argues against a government that depends on parties he calls supporters of terrorism, which ynet describes as a warning against a government dependent on Arab parties, and says Likud is the largest party. That rejects giving Eisenkot the task.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Naftali BennettFormer prime minister of IsraelBefore this statement
Herzog held consultations with the Knesset factions at the President's Residence in Jerusalem to receive their recommendations on whom to task with forming a government.
"At these moments, our party's representatives are recommending Gadi Eisenkot to the President for the task of forming the government. I am so proud of our team! We must form a government as soon as possible and begin the repair; there is a lot of work ahead of us. (Translated from Hebrew. Original: ברגעים אלה נציגי המפלגה שלנו ממליצים לנשיא המדינה על גדי איזנקוט למלאכת הרכבת הממשלה. אני כל כך גאה בנבחרת שלנו! אנחנו חייבים להקים ממשלה בהקדם ולהתחיל בתיקון, עבודה רבה לפנינו)"
Defended or excusedCase context: Herzog tasks Gadi Eisenkot, not Netanyahu, with forming Israel's next government; Netanyahu had called for a national unity government
Full statement and sources
In a post on X during the consultations, Bennett says his party's representatives are recommending Eisenkot to the President for the task of forming the government and that a government must be formed as soon as possible.
After the statement
By the end of the consultations that evening, Eisenkot had 67 recommendations and Netanyahu 46. Herzog said he intended to task a Knesset member with forming a government the following Sunday.
Naftali Bennett: our representatives are recommending Gadi Eisenkot to the President (post in Hebrew)Post text (Hebrew)Eisenkot leads Netanyahu 67-46, but Herzog delays mandate decision until Sunday · Ynet NewsArticle textWhy this label?
The reference point is President Herzog's decision to task Gadi Eisenkot, rather than Benjamin Netanyahu, with forming Israel's next government. Bennett announces that his party is recommending Eisenkot for the task and says a government must be formed as soon as possible, which supports giving Eisenkot the task.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(11)
Original post
President Herzog decides to task Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot with forming the government (Office of the President of Israel, post in Hebrew)
About this source
Hebrew-language post by the Office of the President of Israel announcing that President Isaac Herzog decided to task Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot with forming the government. It says the decision followed the consultations with the Knesset factions and further talks, including meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Eisenkot, in which Herzog told them of his intention. It says factions totaling 67 Knesset members recommended Eisenkot, factions totaling 46 recommended Netanyahu and a seven-member faction recommended no one, and that the mandate ceremony was set for Sunday, November 8, at 17:00 at the President's Residence.
- Author
- Office of the President of Israel (@IsraelPresident)
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
President Herzog completes consultations with the Knesset factions (Office of the President of Israel)
About this source
English-language post by the Office of the President of Israel on the last meetings of the consultations on November 5 and Herzog's announcement that he intended to task a Knesset member with forming a government the following Sunday.
- Author
- Office of the President of Israel (@IsraelPresident)
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Israel's president taps opposition candidate Eisenkot to form a government, in setback for Netanyahu
Relevant passage: Article text
About this source
CBS News report, with Associated Press contributions, on Herzog's decision, the bloc seat totals, Netanyahu's video statement, the Yashar party's response and the position of the Arab-led parties.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Israel's president taps opposition candidate, not Netanyahu, to form a government
Relevant passage: Article text
About this source
NPR report on Herzog's decision to task Gadi Eisenkot with forming the government, with the Likud and Yashar seat totals from the October 27 election, the timetable for coalition talks and background on Eisenkot.
- Author
- Tara Neill
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Naftali Bennett: our representatives are recommending Gadi Eisenkot to the President (post in Hebrew)
About this source
Hebrew-language post on Naftali Bennett's X account, published while the delegation of his party, Together, was meeting President Herzog during the consultations on November 5.
- Author
- Naftali Bennett (@naftalibennett)
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Israel's president picks Eisenkot over Netanyahu to form next government
Relevant passage: Article text
About this source
Al Jazeera report on Herzog's decision, with the recommendation totals, the coalition arithmetic, an excerpt of Netanyahu's video address and comments that Joint List lawmaker Ahmad Tibi gave Al Jazeera on November 7.
- Author
- Al Jazeera Staff
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Benjamin Netanyahu: national unity (video address in Hebrew)
About this source
Recorded video address in Hebrew posted on Benjamin Netanyahu's X account under the caption "National unity" about two and a half hours before the Office of the President announced its decision. In it Netanyahu calls for a national unity government and warns against a government that depends on parties he calls supporters of terrorism.
- Author
- Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu)
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Eisenkot leads Netanyahu 67-46, but Herzog delays mandate decision until Sunday
Relevant passage: Article text
About this source
Ynet News report on the end of Herzog's consultations with the Knesset factions on November 5, listing which parties recommended Eisenkot and which recommended Netanyahu, Herzog's statement that he would decide on Sunday, and remarks by the Yashar and Likud delegations, translated into English.
- Author
- Amir Ettinger
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
After meeting Netanyahu, Herzog to task Eisenkot with forming government
Relevant passage: Article text
About this source
Ynet News report on Herzog's announcement that he would task Gadi Eisenkot with forming the government, including English translations of Netanyahu's recorded address calling for a national unity government and of the Yashar party's response to it.
- Author
- Moran Azulay
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Herzog to grant Eisenkot mandate to form Israel's next government
Relevant passage: Article text
About this source
JNS report on Herzog's announcement that he would task Gadi Eisenkot with forming the government, with the recommendation totals, Eisenkot's X post in Hebrew and English translation, Netanyahu's recorded call for a unity government and the Yashar party's response.
- Author
- JNS Staff
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Gadi Eisenkot: time to form a national emergency government (post in Hebrew)
About this source
Hebrew-language post on Gadi Eisenkot's verified X account, published about 20 minutes after the Office of the President announced that Herzog would task him with forming the government. The post carries a photo of Eisenkot and Herzog shaking hands at the President's Residence.
- Author
- Gadi Eisenkot (@gadi_eisenkot)
- Published
- Accessed
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- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Herzog tasks Gadi Eisenkot, not Netanyahu, with forming Israel's next government; Netanyahu had called for a national unity government
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
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The Dispute Index. "Herzog tasks Gadi Eisenkot, not Netanyahu, with forming Israel's next government; Netanyahu had called for a national unity government". First published: 2026-11-08. Last updated: 2026-11-08. https://disputeindex.com/cases/herzog-tasks-eisenkot-with-forming-israels-next-government