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Members of Israel’s newly elected parliament were sworn in on Tuesday. President Isaac Herzog urged lawmakers to avoid another election as former general Gadi Eisenkot sought to form a governing coalition.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lost his parliamentary majority in the October 27 election. However, his rivals have also failed to find a clear path to power.
Herzog tasked Eisenkot with forming a government on Sunday. Eisenkot and his allies do not have a majority in parliament and have yet to reach agreements with potential coalition partners. If neither Eisenkot nor Netanyahu can form a government, Israel could hold another election.
Herzog calls for compromise
Presiding over the swearing-in ceremony, Herzog urged lawmakers to work together despite their political differences.
“You must do everything you can to avoid another election. Extend a hand for the sake of compromise, even to your rivals. Treat one another with goodwill. There is much work to be done here, and it requires the skills and experience of every part of this chamber,” Herzog said.
He also stressed that parliament was “obligated to leave no opportunity unused” to investigate and understand the “tragedy” of October 7. Israel continues to face threats from Iran and its allies.
Balance of power in parliament
Netanyahu will remain caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed, AnewZ reports. His right-wing Likud party and its far-right, ultra-Orthodox allies performed better than expected but lost their parliamentary majority.
| Political bloc | Seats in the Knesset |
|---|---|
| Netanyahu’s Likud party and its allies | 53 |
| Eisenkot’s center-right Yashar party and its allies | 48 |
| Arab parties | 19 |
The Knesset has 120 seats. Given their shared opposition to Netanyahu’s rule, Arab parties could play a decisive role in Eisenkot’s attempt to form a government.
Agenda for the new parliament
Despite the political deadlock, the new Knesset could act on a number of promises Eisenkot made during his election campaign. These include establishing a state commission to investigate Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks.
Arab parties support the investigation, while Netanyahu has largely opposed it. A parliamentary majority could also remove the current Knesset speaker, who belongs to Likud.
Minutes after the parliament’s official opening, Eisenkot and his allies introduced bills to establish an investigative commission and impose a term limit on the prime minister.
They also proposed repealing the controversial judicial overhaul and other laws passed during Netanyahu’s government over the past four years.
Three options for forming a government
Eisenkot has until December 6 to form a government. He can ask for a two-week extension, until December 20. Eisenkot has described the task as “extremely complicated.”
Three possible routes to power remain, each facing serious obstacles:
- Forming a minority government with the support of Arab parties;
- Creating a coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties despite years of mutual hostility;
- Forming a unity government with Netanyahu.
The ultra-Orthodox parties have so far refused to join a government led by Eisenkot.
Netanyahu proposes unity government
Netanyahu has cast doubt on the election results, alleging without providing evidence that Arab citizens, who make up about one-fifth of Israel’s population, committed voter fraud. Election officials said they were investigating possible violations but had found no evidence of fraud on a scale that could have affected the result.
After the swearing-in ceremony, Netanyahu called for a unity government. He said Iran was trying to revive its nuclear program and that Israel could face international pressure to reach an agreement with a nuclear-armed Iran.
“Only a unity government like this can overcome challenges of this magnitude,” Netanyahu said.
If Eisenkot fails to form a government, Herzog will most likely invite Netanyahu to try to build a coalition. If Netanyahu also fails, another candidate will be given a chance before a new election becomes necessary.
Reservist Elisha Madan also drew attention at the swearing-in ceremony. Madan, who lost both legs during fighting in Gaza, stood on his prosthetic legs to take the oath. Lawmakers gave him a standing ovation.
