Eisenkot is Netanyahu's strongest rival, and his selection by Herzog marks a significant development in the ongoing political stalemate. The elections saw Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition lose its majority, but it remains the largest bloc in parliament.

The anti-Netanyahu bloc led by Eisenkot has refused to collaborate with Arab parties that could potentially hand them a majority. However, despite this, Arab leaders have nominated Eisenkot for the role of forming a new government after marathon talks with Herzog.

Eisenkot's selection will now see him attempting to build a coalition and secure a majority in parliament, presenting a challenge to Netanyahu's bid to remain in power as Israel's longest-serving leader.

The Israeli president has entrusted Gadi Eisenkot with the task of forming a government, following weeks of intense negotiations after the recent elections. As per presidential protocol, Eisenkot will now attempt to assemble a coalition in parliament, which is expected to be a complex and challenging process.

With a 28-day deadline to form a government, Eisenkot has three potential pathways to power: attempting to create a minority government with support from Arab parties, forming an alliance with ultra-Orthodox groups he had previously shunned, or forging a unity government with incumbent Prime Minister Netanyahu. However, analysts suggest that all these options are unlikely to materialize.

Eisenkot's selection comes as a result of the failure of Netanyahu's wider religious-nationalist coalition to secure a majority in parliament, despite winning the most seats for any single party. With only 53 seats out of a total 120, Netanyahu's chances of remaining in power appear slim. The Likud party secured 27 seats, but it was not enough to guarantee a continuation of Netanyahu's tenure.

The process of forming a government is expected to be protracted, with the possibility of extensions and further negotiations. If Eisenkot fails to assemble a coalition, another candidate will be nominated to attempt to form a government, with the option of holding new elections if all else fails.

Eisenkot's Yashar party secured 21 seats, emerging as the second-largest party in the election. This significant showing enabled Eisenkot to form a coalition government, comprising four centre-left to right-wing Jewish-led parties that collectively won 48 seats.

However, this tally fell short of an outright majority, leaving Eisenkot with the daunting task of assembling a stable coalition. His background as a military commander, who oversaw operations in Lebanon, has been highlighted by his campaign team as a key asset in navigating Israel's complex security landscape.

Eisenkot comes from a unique cultural heritage, being the son of Moroccan immigrants, and would be the first prime minister from Israel's Mizrahi community. This demographic shift is significant, given that Jews tracing their roots to the Middle East and North Africa have historically been underrepresented in Israeli politics.

The personal costs of Eisenkot's involvement in national service are also well-documented, with his family having suffered the loss of a son and two nephews during combat in Gaza since 2023.

Eisenkot's views on Israel's military doctrine are at odds with his new role as prime minister-designate. He has expressed opposition to a policy known as "Dahiya Doctrine", named after a Beirut suburb devastated by war, which authorizes the use of disproportionate force against civilian infrastructure.

Critics have accused Israel of committing war crimes in Gaza, where over 74,000 Palestinians have lost their lives since the assault began. However, Israel disputes these claims and maintains that its actions are justified under military necessity.

France 24 English: https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20261107-israeli-president-picks-netanyahu-s-rival-eisenkot-to-try-to-form-government

Netanyahu made these allegations in a video address, where he stood in front of an Israeli flag and the slogan Prime Minister's Office. The prime minister's comments come as tensions rise between his government and Arab-Israeli politicians, who are seen as key players in determining the country's future leadership.

The accusations have been met with resistance from the Joint List, a coalition of three Arab-Israeli parties that includes Ayman Odeh, one of its lawmakers. The list has denounced Netanyahu's claims as political persecution" and warned that such allegations aim to delegitimize the votes cast by Arab citizens in the October 27 election.

The controversy surrounding foreign interference in Israel's elections comes as the country is set for a new round of coalition-building. With several key parties still undecided on their allegiances, Netanyahu's far-right allies are seeking to capitalize on his claims of foreign meddling to sway public opinion and secure their positions.

The Joint List has stated that it will not allow its supporters' votes to be discredited by such allegations, and is vowing to continue working towards a united front with other opposition parties.

The investigation into alleged foreign interference in Israel's recent elections has taken a new turn, with outgoing lawmaker Odeh set to be questioned by Shin Bet officials.

Odeh, a veteran of Israeli politics and former leader of the left-wing party Hadash, is accused of receiving hundreds of thousands of shekels from an unspecified foreign entity. The allegations have been pushed by Netanyahu's Likud party, which claims they raise serious concerns about election fairness.

The Attorney General has denied Shin Bet's request to interrogate other Arab party leaders without concrete evidence, sparking anger among Netanyahu's allies who have long had a tense relationship with the Attorney General.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu is pointing to recent arrests of individuals found with cash on election day as evidence of localized incidents rather than widespread foreign interference.

Netanyahu has leveled further accusations against his opponents, claiming they have accepted money from Qatar in an attempt to sway the election outcome.

This claim is particularly noteworthy given that similar allegations had previously been made against Netanyahu's own aides. The premier's assertion appears to be part of a broader narrative aimed at undermining confidence in the electoral process.

Critics of Netanyahu's camp argue that it has abused its power, with Yair Golan, a left-wing leader in the opposition alliance, pointing to recent arrests and questioning by security agencies as evidence of this abuse.

France 24 English: https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20261104-netanyahu-claims-serious-concerns-of-foreign-spending-to-sway-israeli-election

All parties within Gadi Eisenkot's change bloc have endorsed him as the next prime minister, but they face a crucial decision on whether to form an alliance with Arab parties that made unexpected gains in the vote. These Arab parties could potentially hold the key to a coalition government, but their inclusion may be contentious among some opposition members.

Party leaders from Eisenkot's Yashar party have announced that they will meet in Herzliya on Tuesday morning to discuss coordinating their next steps. The meeting marks an important milestone in the formation of a potential new government, as the diverse opposition grouping seeks to present a united front against Netanyahu's bid for another term.

Netanyahu has called for a broad coalition government under his leadership, but it remains unclear whether this will be feasible given the fragmented nature of the Israeli political landscape. As Eisenkot's change bloc looks to unite behind their chosen leader, they face a complex web of alliances and rivalries that must be navigated in order to secure power.

The Israeli opposition has made significant gains in the latest parliamentary election, securing 48 seats, while incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's camp took 53 seats, including 27 from his Likud party.

Meanwhile, Arab-majority lists have won a record number of seats in the parliament, with 19 members elected. This development has given them considerable influence and potentially positions them as key players in forming any new government.

In response to these results, Netanyahu has called for a broad national government that excludes the participation of Arab parties. He argued that his Likud party had secured the largest number of seats and that he should lead the next coalition as prime minister.

Netanyahu also stated that his party would not form a coalition with any group that supports terrorism or denies Israel's existence as a Jewish state, explicitly ruling out an alliance with Arab-majority lists.

As negotiations for forming a new government continue, cracks are emerging within the opposition bloc led by Benny Eisenkot. Although all party leaders in his camp have expressed support for him to form the next government, there is disagreement on how to achieve this goal.

The possibility of partnering with Arab-majority lists has become a major point of contention. While some, like Yair Golan's Democrats, see potential benefits in such an alliance, others are strongly opposed. Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party is firmly against it, but Eisenkot's party has not explicitly ruled out the idea.

The stance of Naftali Bennett's centre-right Together party remains unclear, adding to the complexity of negotiations. Meanwhile, Eisenkot's bloc appears to be holding firm in its support for him as prime minister. The Arab lists have hinted at possibly endorsing Eisenkot, but no formal decision has been made.

Behind-the-scenes talks are ongoing, with few details emerging about the discussions so far. The shared objective among the Arab-majority leaders is to bring down what they describe as a "racist" government, while other parties in the opposition have more nuanced views on the issue.

The Israeli opposition has begun to coalesce around a single candidate to form a government, with former military chief Gadi Eisenkot emerging as the likely choice.

According to reports, Netanyahu's right-wing allies and ultra-Orthodox party Shas are expected to recommend his name for prime minister, while the position of another ultra-Orthodox party remains unclear.

President Isaac Herzog will hold consultations with party representatives starting Wednesday and has seven days to make a decision or until November 11.

France 24 English: https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20261103-israeli-opposition-unites-behind-eisenkot-netanyahu-voters-chose-him-pm

The opposition has accused Netanyahu of trying to delegitimize the election by demonizing the Arab population, which has been gaining political influence in Israel. If other opposition parties were to form an alliance with Arab-led parties, they could potentially gain a majority in parliament, marking a significant shift in Israeli politics.

According to the latest results from election officials, Netanyahu's bloc secured 53 seats out of 120 in the Knesset, while his main opposition won 48. Arab-led parties made a historic showing by securing the remaining 19 seats. This outcome has raised concerns about the future of Netanyahu's leadership and the balance of power in Israel.

The final count is complete, but the results still need to be certified and submitted to the country's president next Wednesday. In the meantime, Netanyahu's party continues to spread claims of malfeasance by Arab-led parties, with some accusations even suggesting foreign interference.

The Israeli election commission has announced that it will investigate allegations of foreign interference in the recent elections. The investigation is based on classified intelligence and was revealed as the commission released its preliminary results earlier this week.

Netanyahu's party has responded to the news by leveling accusations at Arab-led parties, with some claims even suggesting that foreign powers are behind the alleged malfeasance. In a statement, Netanyahu's party claimed that the elections had been "stolen, although it provided no evidence to support this claim.

The allegations of foreign interference have also targeted Qatar, which has been accused by members of Netanyahu's party of seeking to influence the election outcome. However, Qatar has denied these claims as ridiculous and dangerous.

Netanyahu's claims of malfeasance by Arab-led parties have taken a new turn as he attempts to shift attention from his own party's alleged ties to Qatar. This move is seen as an attempt to discredit potential alliances between his opponents and the Arab parties.

Critics argue that Netanyahu's accusations are an attempt to further marginalize Arab citizens, who make up 20% of Israel's population but are often viewed with suspicion due to their sympathies with other Palestinians. The Likud party has been accused of using such tactics in the past to undermine support for Arab-led parties.

The Shin Bet investigation into alleged foreign interference in the election is ongoing, with the agency seeking to calm tensions by stating that its probe was not intended to cast aspersions on any particular group of voters. This assertion comes amidst growing concerns over Netanyahu's attempts to delegitimize the results of the election.

In a letter to a concerned member of parliament, the elections committee emphasized that allegations of widespread electoral integrity issues are unfounded and baseless. The committee has requested findings from the Shin Bet within a week, as it continues its investigation into the matter.

The investigation into election interference has taken center stage in Israel's post-election landscape. Tensions are running high as allegations of malfeasance swirl around Arab-led parties, which have been accused by Netanyahu's party of attempting to steal the election.

Campaign attacks against Arab-led parties, coupled with widespread discontent over Netanyahu and his far-right government, have fueled unprecedented voter turnout among Arabs in recent elections. The head of the Democrats party, Yair Golan, has claimed that Netanyahu is trying to undermine the election results through a smear campaign targeting the Arab public.

The Joint List party has echoed these sentiments, stating bluntly that Netanyahu is working to steal the election. In response, Mansour Abbas, leader of the Ra'am party, has welcomed the investigation into election interference and denied any involvement in the case. Instead, he has accused Netanyahu's government of a campaign of incitement.

President Isaac Herzog has weighed in on the controversy, describing it as a sensitive moment" that requires a full investigation to ensure no community is unfairly targeted or tarnished for exercising its democratic rights.

The Israeli election continues to unfold with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remaining at the helm despite his party's claims of electoral malfeasance by Arab-led parties.

Critics warn that if Netanyahu loses office, he will face accountability for yearslong corruption allegations and an inquiry into the security failures leading up to the devastating Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. This would be a significant setback for him as he has sought to avoid such consequences at all costs.

Arab-led parties could assert their growing power in the next parliament by supporting other Netanyahu opponents, potentially allowing them to elect a new speaker and control the legislative agenda before a new government is formed.

Eisenkot has expressed openness to joining forces with Arab-led parties under certain conditions. Meanwhile, Ahmad Tibi of the Joint List revealed that the opposition bloc had reached out to him about replacing the Knesset speaker, and his party would support their candidate.

Small rallies have taken place in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in support of a coalition including Arab-led parties, marking a significant shift from the past when no Arab party had joined a coalition government until 2021.

If a new government cannot be formed after multiple attempts, Israel's election process may lead to another vote early next year. This scenario has become increasingly likely as efforts to establish a coalition continue to falter.

New elections would raise further questions about voter turnout, particularly among Arab citizens who made up a significant portion of those who cast their ballots in the previous poll.

Fortune: https://fortune.com/2026/10/29/israel-election-netanyahu-bloc-loses-majority-stolen-claims/

Polls are indicating a closely fought contest between the right-wing and religious bloc led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, and the so-called change bloc opposing him. Right-leaning pollsters give Netanyahu's coalition an edge, while left-leaning ones show the opposition ahead. However, most polls suggest that neither side is likely to secure a decisive majority of 120 seats in the Knesset.

The tight margins mean that Tuesday's election could lead to a stalemate, forcing protracted negotiations between opposing parties or even a minority government. Alternatively, another election may be necessary if no clear winner emerges. This uncertainty has left many Israelis concerned about their country's future and stability.

This will be Israel's first election since the devastating attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which have been described as the country's most catastrophic security failure since its founding in 1948. The ongoing conflicts with Iran are also a pressing concern for Netanyahu, who has advocated for military action against the country.

The Israeli election is expected to be a closely contested affair, with several key issues potentially determining the outcome. One of these factors is Netanyahu's ability to form a coalition government without relying on support from Israel's Arab parties.

His pitch to voters hinges on two main arguments: that he alone can maintain a government free from the influence of Arab parties, which he sees as a threat to national security; and that ongoing conflicts with Iran require his continued leadership to achieve resolution. Netanyahu's stance on these issues is likely to be a deciding factor for many voters.

Netanyahu's Likud party has historically been aligned with ultranationalist and Jewish religious groups, and it appears this partnership will continue in any future government he forms. In fact, the success of Netanyahu's coalition plans may depend on his ability to maintain this alliance with these parties.

Netanyahu has emphasized that he is the only leader capable of working closely with Mr. Trump to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, a threat many Israelis consider existential.

This claim is likely to resonate with some voters who view Netanyahu's relationship with the US as crucial in maintaining Israel's security and regional influence.

The charisma and strong leadership style of Netanyahu have also been highlighted by supporters like Benny Abraham, a restaurant owner who described him as "the king of Israel.

Abraham's sentiment reflects the widespread perception that Netanyahu has a unique ability to navigate complex international relationships.

A diverse group of parties, including Arab, right-wing, left-wing, and centrist groups, have formed an alliance with one clear goal: removing Netanyahu from power.

This coalition, often referred to as the change bloc," faces a significant challenge in unifying its various factions behind a single leader.

The front-runner to lead this coalition is former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot, who leads the centrist Yashar party and has been thrust into politics after experiencing personal tragedy.

Eisenkot's military background has clearly had an impact on his approach to politics, as he emphasizes the need for a united Israel after years of division.

He is framing himself as a humble veteran who wants to bring people together and put an end to the bitter infighting that has characterized Israeli politics in recent times.

Eisenkot's campaign promises are focused on accountability and transparency, with one key pledge being the launch of a state inquiry into the intelligence failure that led to the October security breach.

This move is seen as a way for Eisenkot to demonstrate his commitment to getting to the bottom of what went wrong and making sure it doesn't happen again.

The outcome of Israel's election hangs in the balance as Benjamin Netanyahu faces a tough road ahead. According to experts, there are several factors that could tip the scales in his favor or against him.

Two new parties have entered the fray, each hovering around the threshold for support required to gain seats in the Knesset. If either party manages to cross this threshold, it could significantly impact Netanyahu's chances of forming a new government. This is particularly relevant given that both parties cut across traditional lines of support and coalition partners.

The election outcome is far from certain, with multiple paths forward possible if neither bloc wins a clear majority in parliament. In such an event, parties or individual lawmakers may break election promises and switch sides, as has been seen in Israeli politics before. This could lead to weeks of intense negotiating before a new coalition is agreed upon.

To form a government, parties must collectively win more seats than their opponents, even if it's less than 50% of the total 120 seats available.

If a stalemate occurs and neither side can build a coalition government, Israel will be forced to hold new elections, a situation that has repeated itself multiple times in recent years. Between 2019 and 2022 alone, the country held five elections due to electoral deadlock.

CBS News World: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-election-benjamin-netanyahu-political-fate-key-factors/