The key facts

  • Gadi Eisenkot pledged to form a national emergency government as soon as possible
  • Opposition leaders agreed to recommend him to Israel's president to form the cabinet
  • Netanyahu's bloc won 53 of 120 seats, the opposition 48, and the Arab parties 19

Statement after the elections

Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, who heads the Yeshar party, said on Wednesday that efforts are underway to form a national emergency government as soon as possible. This was reported by Anadolu.

Relations with the US

The former chief of staff pledged a new leadership that would serve all Israelis and defend liberal values and equality. He described relations with the US as a partnership that goes beyond governments and is based on shared democratic values and security interests.

Context of the elections and negotiations

The statement came a day after opposition leaders — Eisenkot, former prime minister Naftali Bennett, opposition leader Yair Lapid, Yisrael Beiteinu head Avigdor Lieberman and leader of the Democrats Yair Golan — agreed to recommend Eisenkot to President Isaac Herzog to form the next government in order to avoid repeat elections. The parties also agreed to begin coalition negotiations. According to Anadolu, in the October 27 elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc won 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset — fewer than the 61 needed for a majority; the opposition took 48 seats and the Arab parties 19, potentially giving Netanyahu's opponents enough parliamentary support. At the same time, disagreements between the opposition parties persist, since the coalition would depend on the support of Arab lawmakers. Under Israeli parliamentary procedure, the president consults with the parties before tasking a lawmaker with forming a government. The newly elected Knesset is to convene on November 10.