Overview
- Gadi Eisenkot won recommendations from 67 Knesset members after consultations, with the Joint List and Ra'am boosting his total while he has said he will not bring Arab parties directly into government.
- President Herzog is expected to name the candidate to form a government on Sunday, which would start the 28-day legal clock for coalition talks and allow a one-time 14-day extension.
- Avigdor Lieberman refuses to work with Israeli-Arab parties and demands concessions on conscription, while United Torah Judaism abstained from endorsing any candidate over military-exemption disputes.
- Eisenkot’s immediate options are a minority cabinet supported from outside by Arab parties, or making concessions to ultra-Orthodox parties to reach 61 seats; failure to form a coalition would trigger new elections with Benjamin Netanyahu remaining caretaker.
- The outcome will shape who controls Israel’s security organs, the future of universal service and the standing of Palestinian citizens after record Arab turnout delivered 19 Knesset seats and unprecedented kingmaker influence.