Israel’s election produces no majority; Netanyahu’s rival gets 28 days to form a government

Israel’s October 27 election left Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud bloc with 53 seats and opposition parties aligned with Gadi Eisenkot with 48, short of the 61 needed for a majority. On November 7, President Isaac Herzog announced he intended to give Eisenkot the mandate. Today, Eisenkot formally received it and began trying to assemble a government. He has 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension. Netanyahu has already floated a unity government, but Eisenkot’s route to a majority remains difficult.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/netanyahu-rival-eisenkot-seeks-wide-government-path-power-uncertain-2026-11-08/

https://www.president.gov.il/en/president-herzog-concludes-consultations-and-announces-he-will-task-gadi-eisenkot-with-forming-a-government/