Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Sunday selected Gadi Eisenkot, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leading political rival, to attempt to form a new government after the inconclusive Oct. 27 parliamentary elections.
The decision was a blow to Mr. Netanyahu, whose Likud party won the most seats but failed to secure a majority in Israel’s parliament, the Knesset. No party received enough seats in the 120-seat Knesset to form a working government.
The president’s decision to bypass Mr. Netanyahu and give his rival the first shot at building a coalition leaves the prime minister’s future and Israel’s relationship with the Trump administration open questions. Mr. Trump formally backed Mr. Netanyahu for the position.
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Along with U.S.-Israel security cooperation, Israel’s next prime minister could influence U.S. policy toward Iran and the Gaza Strip, as well as regional diplomacy, including efforts to expand the Abraham Accords.
Mr. Netanyahu’s government has faced growing criticism over settlement expansion in the West Bank. Although an Eisenkot-led government could dramatically lower the diplomatic temperature with Washington, it was not clear whether it would alter Israel’s core defense policies.
“While Eisenkot has expressed support for Israeli settlements in principle, he opposes unauthorized settlement outposts and has pledged to combat extremist settler violence,” the American Jewish Committee said in a statement. “However, like Netanyahu, he opposes Palestinian statehood.”
An Eisenkot victory is unlikely to fundamentally alter Israel’s regional security strategies. He remains a security hawk who firmly backs Israel’s military operations.
Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Eisenkot agree that Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah pose major threats to Israel, but they differ on strategy. The prime minister, who has aligned closely with Mr. Trump, favors an aggressive approach to Iran, including regime change.
His challenger agrees that military pressure is needed to secure Israel’s safety but said diplomacy and stronger ties with Arab states are also needed.
Both men oppose a formal two-state solution, so U.S. policymakers will find little daylight between them on Palestinian statehood.
Mr. Herzog picked Mr. Eisenkot, a former Israel Defense Forces chief, because he believed Eisenkot’s opposition bloc had the best chance to secure 61 seats in the Knesset. Mr. Eisenkot has 28 days to form a government, but Mr. Herzog is authorized to grant a 14-day extension if necessary.
If Mr. Eisenkot is unable to form a working majority, Mr. Netanyahu could be allowed to do so.
As a former IDF chief of staff and minister without portfolio in Mr. Netanyahu’s war Cabinet, Mr. Eisenkot has strong security credentials that would make it difficult for right-wing opponents to write him off.
“We are in a state of emergency. Israel needs new leadership as much as it needs air to breathe,” Mr. Eisenkot said Sunday. “I am convinced that it is possible and right to swiftly form an Israel emergency government … that commands a large majority in the Knesset.”
Mr. Eisenkot’s coalition, often referred to as the “Change Bloc,” is a broad alliance spanning the political center, center-left and secular right. His own centrist Yashar party focuses on security issues and government accountability.
Another centrist faction is the Beyachad party, headed by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
The center-left party, The Democrats, is headed by former IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Yair Golan. Yisrael Beiteinu, a right-wing, secular nationalist party, is led by former Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman.
Mr. Netanyahu has been Israel’s prime minister for more than 19 years over three nonconsecutive periods. Mr. Eisenkot said his political stranglehold on Israel threatens the very existence of democracy there.
“Israel is already today in the midst of a dangerous political tsunami,” he said.
Mr. Eisenkot said his postelection discussion with Mr. Herzog revealed a clear picture of the political situation in Israel.
“An absolute majority of Knesset members support change and my tenure as prime minister,” he said on social media. “In contrast, only 46 Knesset members support the continuation of Benjamin Netanyahu’s tenure.”
In a historic turnout, Israel’s Arab parties received 19 seats in the Knesset elections. They have emerged as possible kingmakers, although some members of Mr. Eisenkot’s coalition said they would not serve with them.
Mr. Golan of The Democrats said Mr. Netanyahu cannot be part of any effort to “fix” Israel. He accused the prime minister of nurturing Hamas rule in Gaza and blocking a state commission of inquiry into the terrorist group’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack.
“Netanyahu understands that this time, he is out. He sees the change government taking shape, and he is afraid. After years of inciting, dividing, pitting people against one another, and trying to delegitimize the change bloc, he suddenly remembers unity,” Mr. Golan said. “This is political panic. A survival attempt by someone who understands that his rule is coming to an end.”
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