Bennett breaks opposition impasse by backing Eisenkot for prime minister

Naftali Bennett formally recommended Gadi Eisenkot to President Isaac Herzog on Sunday, designating the Yashar leader as the opposition’s candidate to form the next government. This decision resolves the internal standoff within the anti-Netanyahu bloc, which had failed to agree on a single front-runner ahead of the president’s mandatory consultations.

The arithmetic of the new Knesset dictates the stakes. Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc holds 53 seats, while the opposition bloc controls 48. Neither side reaches the 61-seat majority required to form a stable cabinet. However, the Arab parties, Ra'am and the Joint List, won a combined 19 seats. If these parties back Eisenkot, he commands a theoretical total of 67, a number sufficient to trigger the president’s mandate.

Eisenkot’s Yashar party won 21 seats, making it the largest faction in the opposition, though it trails Likud’s 27. Bennett’s B’Yachad party stated that its leader had been clear during the campaign that he would respect the voters’ decision. Bennett informed Eisenkot of the recommendation directly, bypassing a formal consensus that included Avigdor Liberman and Yair Golan.

President Herzog urged political leaders to accept the election results and avoid entrenchment that could force another vote. He warned against leaders climbing trees, a metaphor for avoiding reality, during a ceremony honoring former president Chaim Weizmann. Consultations at the President’s Residence begin Wednesday, where Eisenkot is expected to be the first to receive the mandate.

Negotiations for a governing coalition hinge on the inclusion of Arab parties, a point of contention for several opposition leaders. Yair Golan of the Democrats met with Joint List leaders Yousef Jabareen and Ahmad Tibi on Sunday. Golan previously met with Mansour Abbas of Ra'am. These leaders agreed to meet this week to discuss cooperation. Other opposition heads had previously set a red line against Arab coalition partners following the October 7 events.

The ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, which currently support Netanyahu, also weighed in. Yaakov Asher of United Torah Judaism convened with party members to discuss next steps. Moshe Maya, a senior Shas member, stated there is no reason to rule out negotiations with Eisenkot. The haredi parties have not yet released an official statement on their preferred candidate.

If a coalition is not formed, the Knesset will be sworn in on November 10 regardless. Opposition leaders plan to move immediately to oust Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, a Likud member. Replacing Ohana requires a majority vote, which the opposition and Arab parties can achieve with 67 seats. This would shift control of the parliamentary agenda, including committee appointments and legislative scheduling, to the opposition even if Netanyahu remains head of a caretaker government.