Gadi Eisenkot Tasked With Forming New Israeli Government
Israeli President Isaac Herzog tasks opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming a new government, sidelining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Portal Islam 
This article was first published in Indonesian. Baca versi Bahasa Indonesia →
Israeli President Isaac Herzog officially appointed opposition bloc leader and Yashar Party chairman Gadi Eisenkot to form a new Israeli government on Saturday, November 7, 2026. This appointment sidelines incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after parliamentary factions representing 67 members of the Knesset (Israel's parliament) advised Herzog to grant the mandate to Eisenkot.
As cited from ANTARA and CNN Indonesia, Eisenkot has been given 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to build a majority coalition controlling at least 61 of the 120 Knesset seats. According to ANTARA's report, the official handover of the mandate is scheduled to take place on Sunday at 17:00 local time (22:00 WIB / UTC+7) at the official state residence.
Appointment Details and Parliamentary Seat Breakdown
Reports from CNN Indonesia and ANTARA noted that the legislative election held on October 27, 2026, did not result in any single faction winning the 61-seat majority. In the election, Netanyahu's right-wing bloc secured 53 seats, while the opposition alliance secured 48 seats. Meanwhile, two Arab parties, the Joint List and Ra'am, representing Palestinians in Israel, won the remaining 19 seats.
According to ANTARA, individually Netanyahu's Likud Party won 27 seats, while Eisenkot's Yashar Party obtained 21 seats. However, during the consultation process, 67 legislators backed Eisenkot to form a government, while 46 parliamentarians supported Netanyahu. As cited by ANTARA, 7 legislators from the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party withheld their recommendation due to disputes over the exemption of ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service.
Coalition Challenges and Netanyahu's Status
Based on CNN Indonesia's report citing Al Jazeera, Eisenkot is now working to lobby parties from Netanyahu's former coalition, such as United Torah Judaism (UTJ) and Shas. This step is being taken because Eisenkot has ruled out forming a government with Arab parties, which could otherwise have provided him with a total of 67 seats. If Eisenkot successfully brings in the two ultra-Orthodox parties, he will secure exactly the 61-seat majority.
Meanwhile, according to ANTARA and CNN Indonesia, Benjamin Netanyahu remains acting prime minister until the new government is officially formed. ANTARA reported that Netanyahu is one of Israel's longest-serving leaders, who since 2020 has faced corruption charges, as well as an arrest warrant request from the International Criminal Court (ICC) since November 2024 over war crime allegations in the Gaza Strip. These internal political developments unfold amid a humanitarian situation that has drawn global concern, including an recent Israeli strike around Gaza that killed 25 people.
Reflections on Leadership and the Turn of Power
From an Islamic perspective, political dynamics and shifts in leadership are part of the divine laws regarding the rotation of power among human beings. Islam teaches that leadership and positions of authority are not permanent, but rather heavy trusts that will be accounted for justly in the hereafter. Every leader is reminded to uphold justice and put an end to all forms of oppression against fellow human beings.
