# Gadi Eisenkot Tasked with Forming New Israeli Government Opposition leader faces complex coalition negotiations amid strict conditions and deep political divisions. - **Source:** [NOS – Buitenland](https://nos.nl/nieuws/buitenland) - **Published:** 2026-11-07 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/4054a842-5be1-4e45-b54f-6d1e5a41d342 ## Presidential Mandate for Eisenkot President Herzog has officially designated opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot as the first formateur to build a new Israeli government. Although Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party secured the most seats, Eisenkot received more recommendations from other parliamentary factions. This decision initiates a critical period of negotiation to resolve the ongoing political stalemate. ## Strict Conditions for Cooperation Eisenkot has established four non-negotiable conditions for potential partners, including recognizing Israel as a Jewish democratic state and upholding the declaration of independence. Furthermore, he demands universal military or civil service for all citizens and the formal recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization that must be fully dismantled. ## The Arab Parties Dilemma Arab parties, including Ra'am and the Joint List, hold a record nineteen seats, making them potential kingmakers. However, internal opposition leaders like Bennett and Lieberman strictly reject any government dependent on their support. While Ra'am shows pragmatism, they have not explicitly labeled Hamas a terrorist organization, complicating their formal inclusion. ## Netanyahu's Allegations of Fraud Netanyahu and the Likud party have publicly accused Arab factions of election fraud and foreign interference. Despite these inflammatory claims, the national election commission and police have confirmed there is no evidence of widespread irregularities. Netanyahu continues to warn the public against a government reliant on parties he labels as Islamist. ## Ultra-Orthodox Party Shift The United Torah Judaism party, a former Netanyahu ally, notably refrained from recommending him for prime minister. This indicates a potential rift, likely driven by Netanyahu's failure to codify military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men. However, a coalition with Eisenkot remains unlikely due to his firm stance on universal military conscription. ## Potential Compromise on Conscription Opposition leader Lieberman recently suggested a possible compromise regarding military service requirements to facilitate a coalition without Netanyahu. Despite this, Eisenkot reaffirmed his commitment to universal service on social media platform X. It remains uncertain if Eisenkot or other opposition figures will abandon their core campaign promises to secure power. ## Unity Government Speculation Netanyahu has repeatedly called for a national unity government involving both himself and Eisenkot. Currently, Eisenkot and his allies categorically reject any partnership with the incumbent prime minister. However, escalating regional tensions with Iran could shift the political climate, potentially increasing public pressure to prioritize national unity over existing rivalries. ## Timeframe and Political Outlook Eisenkot has 28 days to form a viable coalition, with a possible 14-day extension. If he fails to navigate these complex ideological divides and broken campaign promises, the mandate may shift to Netanyahu. The coming weeks will determine which parties are willing to compromise their stated principles to avoid new elections. ## Sources covering this story - https://nos.nl/l/2638495 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._