Gadi Eisenkot receives mandate to form Israeli government, vows emergency coalition

President Isaac Herzog gave Gadi Eisenkot the mandate to form Israel's next government on Sunday. Eisenkot called for a national emergency government and faces challenges uniting a divided bloc of Jewish and Arab-led parties.

Prof. Osnat Akirb argues in an opinion piece that the key to forming a government is in the hands of Gadi Eisenkot, who received the mandate to form it. According to her, Eisenkot can present a narrow government under his leadership with Bennett, Lieberman, and Golan, and enlist external support from Ra'am and Arab MKs to achieve a majority of 54 against 53. The author warns that delays in negotiations could leave decisions in the hands of the outgoing government, and calls on the change bloc to distinguish between campaign promises that can be compromised on and the democratic responsibility that must not be compromised.