Mansour Abbas

President Isaac Herzog will announce on 8 Nov which leader will be tasked with forming Israel’s next government, after consultations show 67 of the 120 Knesset members recommend former army chief Gadi Eisenkot, while 46 back Benjamin Netanyahu and seven abstain. The recommendation comes as Arab‑led Joint List and Ra'am, together holding a record 19 seats from the 27 Oct election, endorse Eisenkot, positioning him as the likely kingmaker in a parliament where neither bloc holds a majority.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is set to decide on Sunday whether to ask Gadi Eisenkot to begin coalition talks after the 27 Oct Knesset election left neither Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud-led bloc nor Eisenkot's opposition with a majority. Eisenkot is reported to be the favourite for the task, backed by the Joint List, which won 11 seats, and Ra'am, which won eight; together the Arab-led parties took a record 19 seats. Eisenkot's Yashar and Yisrael Beiteinu are among parties recommending him, while United Torah Judaism will not back either leader. Netanyahu's bloc, including Shas, backs him to start talks. A majority requires 61 of 120 seats.

The 27 Oct election results will be certified and delivered to President Isaac Herzog on 4 Nov, confirming that Netanyahu's bloc secured 53 seats while the Change bloc won 48 and Arab parties captured a record 19 seats, leaving no side with the 61 seats needed to form a government. Voter turnout reached 77.7%, the highest since 1999. Herzog can assign a 28‑day coalition mandate, extendable by 14 days, and is expected to consult party leaders before deciding whom to task with building a coalition.