Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suffered a major political setback as opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot has reportedly secured stronger parliamentary support to form the country’s next government. According to Israeli media reports, 67 members of the Knesset recommended Eisenkot during consultations with President Isaac Herzog, while 46 lawmakers supported Netanyahu.
Political developments in Israel have intensified as different parties continue negotiations over the formation of a new government. The latest reports suggest that opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot has emerged as a leading candidate to receive the first opportunity to form a governing coalition.
According to Israeli media, President Isaac Herzog held consultations with representatives of political parties to determine which candidate had the strongest parliamentary backing.
During these discussions, 67 members of the Israeli parliament reportedly recommended Gadi Eisenkot as their preferred candidate for prime minister.
In comparison, 46 lawmakers recommended Benjamin Netanyahu, indicating a significant difference in parliamentary support between the two political leaders.
The development represents a challenge for Netanyahu, who is seeking to maintain his political influence and secure another opportunity to lead the government.
Israel’s parliament, known as the Knesset, consists of 120 members. A governing coalition generally needs the support of at least 61 lawmakers to maintain a parliamentary majority.
The recommendations received by Eisenkot suggest that he may have a stronger position in the initial government formation process.
However, receiving recommendations from lawmakers does not automatically make a political leader the next prime minister.
Under Israel’s political system, the president consults parliamentary factions before assigning a member of the Knesset the responsibility of forming a government.
The selected candidate must then negotiate with political parties and attempt to establish a coalition capable of securing parliamentary confidence.
One of the most significant developments reported during the consultations was the decision by the Joint List, an alliance of Arab political parties, to support Gadi Eisenkot.
According to Israeli media, the alliance announced its backing for Eisenkot, further strengthening his position in the government formation process.
The support of Arab political parties could play an important role in determining the balance of power in the Knesset.
Coalition negotiations in Israel often involve several political parties with different priorities, making the formation of a stable government a complicated process.
Eisenkot’s reported advantage has increased expectations that President Isaac Herzog may give him the first opportunity to form the next government.
However, the final decision rests with the president, who must assess which candidate has the strongest chance of successfully establishing a governing coalition.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu faces the challenge of maintaining support among his political allies while attempting to attract additional parliamentary backing.
The reported figures suggest that Netanyahu currently has fewer recommendations than Eisenkot, although further political negotiations could influence the government formation process.
Gadi Eisenkot, a former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, has become an important figure in Israeli opposition politics.
His emergence as a leading candidate reflects the changing political situation in Israel and the efforts of opposition parties to establish an alternative government.
Despite the reported parliamentary advantage, Eisenkot would still need to complete negotiations with potential coalition partners before assuming office.
The formation of a new government could also influence Israel’s domestic political priorities and its approach to regional and international issues.
However, any policy changes would depend on the composition of the new coalition and the agreements reached among participating parties.
For now, Israeli media reports indicate that Eisenkot has gained a clear advantage in the initial parliamentary recommendations.
President Herzog is expected to decide which candidate will receive the mandate to form the next government.
Until the coalition formation process is completed and parliamentary confidence is secured, the outcome of Israel’s political transition remains uncertain.