Israeli President Taps Netanyahu Rival Gadi Eisenkot to Try to Form Government

Summary

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has tasked Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strongest rival, with trying to form a new government. After a deadlocked election, neither Eisenkot nor Netanyahu won a clear majority. Herzog's office said he informed Eisenkot on Saturday night of his intention to give him the task. Representatives of most of Israel's main parties recommended Eisenkot in marathon discussions with the president, which reporters describe as a setback for Netanyahu. Le Monde reports that Eisenkot, a former military chief, will have 28 days to form a government. If he succeeds, he would replace Netanyahu as prime minister, but the New York Times describes the obstacles to forming such a government as formidable.

Timeline

1. France 24

   7 Nov 2026, 19:38 UTCSource ↗

   France 24 reports that Israel's president has picked Netanyahu's rival Gadi Eisenkot to try to form a government.

2. ABC

   7 Nov 2026, 19:41 UTCSource ↗

   ABC reports that Israel's president has chosen Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu's strongest rival, to try to form a new government after a deadlocked election.

3. CBC

   7 Nov 2026, 19:46 UTCSource ↗

   CBC reports that Israel's president has tapped opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot to form a new government, in another setback for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

4. Hindustan Times

   7 Nov 2026, 19:50 UTCSource ↗

   Hindustan Times reports that Israel's president has picked Netanyahu rival Gadi Eisenkot to form a new government after a deadlocked election.

5. Sky News

   7 Nov 2026, 20:10 UTCSource ↗

   Sky News reports that Israeli President Isaac Herzog has asked Netanyahu's strongest rival, Gadi Eisenkot, to try to form a government following a deadlocked election.

6. The New York Times

   7 Nov 2026, 20:11 UTCSource ↗

   The New York Times reports that Eisenkot gets the chance to replace Netanyahu as prime minister by forming a new government, but that the obstacles are formidable.

7. NPR

   7 Nov 2026, 20:18 UTCSource ↗

   NPR reports that Israel's president has tapped opposition candidate Eisenkot to form a government, in a setback for Netanyahu, after neither man won a clear majority and Israel's main parties recommended Eisenkot.

8. RTÉ

   7 Nov 2026, 20:33 UTCSource ↗

   RTÉ reports that Israel's president will task Gadi Eisenkot with forming the next government, which Netanyahu's rivals see as a first step to remove the country's longest-serving prime minister.

9. Le Monde

   7 Nov 2026, 20:34 UTCSource ↗

   Le Monde reports that the Israeli president has tasked Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief who led the opposition to Netanyahu, with forming a government, and that he will have 28 days to do so.

10. Sydney Morning Herald

    7 Nov 2026, 20:36 UTCSource ↗

    The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Israel's president has chosen Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu's strongest rival, to try to form a new government following a deadlocked election.

11. PBS NewsHour

    7 Nov 2026, 20:39 UTCSource ↗

    PBS NewsHour reports that neither Eisenkot nor Netanyahu won a clear majority, and that representatives of most of Israel's main parties recommended in marathon discussions with the president that Eisenkot be tasked with assembling a new government.

12. NPR

    7 Nov 2026, 22:12 UTCSource ↗

    NPR reports that President Herzog has handed opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot the mandate to form a government, dealing a blow to Benjamin Netanyahu's grip on power.

13. The Japan Times

    7 Nov 2026, 23:07 UTCSource ↗

    The Japan Times reports that Israel's president on Saturday chose Gadi Eisenkot, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strongest rival, to try to form a new government.

14. The Guardian

    8 Nov 2026, 14:09 UTCSource ↗

    The Guardian reports that Israel's president has picked Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot to form a government after an election in which Netanyahu's coalition lost its majority.