The key facts

  • Yair Golan suggested a government could be formed within two to three weeks
  • President Herzog tasked Gadi Eiskot with forming the cabinet; he was recommended by factions holding 67 of 120 mandates
  • Disagreements persist over the possible participation of Arab parties

The opposition leader's forecast

Leader of the Israeli Democratic Party Yair Golan said on Wednesday on the army radio station that the country's new government could be formed within two to three weeks. 'We need to form a government quickly. In my opinion, the new government can be formed within two to three weeks,' he said. Israeli media note that it is unclear whether Golan's forecast was based on real progress in the negotiations or reflected his desire to speed up the process.

The main obstacle — the Arab parties

The statement came against the backdrop of progress in negotiations between the opposition 'change bloc' and the ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties. At the same time, the key disagreement remains the role of the Arab parties in the future cabinet. Golan has repeatedly advocated forming a government in partnership with the United Arab List (Ra'am) led by Mansour Abbas and with the support of the United Arab List headed by Youssef Jabarin. These calls are rejected by Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the right-wing party 'Yisrael Beiteinu' and a partner of the 'change bloc': he has pledged not to join a government that includes Arab parties or relies on their support. At the same time, Lieberman has softened his opposition to the participation of the ultra-Orthodox parties, which are currently negotiating with Gadi Eiskot's team.

Eiskot's mandate and the timeline

The task of forming a government has been given to Yashar party leader Gadi Eiskot: President Isaac Herzog issued him the mandate on Sunday after parliamentary elections in which neither his bloc nor the alliance of incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won a majority. Factions representing 67 of the 120 Knesset seats endorsed Eiskot's candidacy, while 46 backed Netanyahu; a faction of seven lawmakers recommended no one. Eiskot has 28 days to form a government, with a possible extension of the deadline by 14 days. Thus, Golan's forecast fits within the allotted mandate, but the coalition's success depends on whether the 'change bloc' can find a compromise on the issue of the Arab parties, which so far divides its own partners.