Netanyahu and Eisenkot Each Seek to Be Israel's Next Prime Minister

Summary

Israel's President Isaac Herzog has begun the process of coalition government negotiations this week. Party leaders are making competing cases to him for either Benjamin Netanyahu or Gadi Eisenkot to get the first chance to build a governing coalition. One possibility is for the centrist opposition bloc to form a government with the Arab parties, which would oust Netanyahu. Protests for and against such a coalition over the weekend made it clear that the Israeli public is divided over the idea.

Timeline

1. France 24

   2 Nov 2026, 15:57 UTCSource ↗

   France 24 reports that President Isaac Herzog has begun the process of coalition government negotiations this week, with one possibility being a centrist opposition bloc government with the Arab parties that would oust Netanyahu, and that weekend protests for and against such a coalition showed the public is divided.

2. NYT

   2 Nov 2026, 20:30 UTCSource ↗

   The New York Times reports that party leaders will make competing cases to the Israeli president for either Benjamin Netanyahu or Gadi Eisenkot to get the first chance to build a governing coalition.