Israel is moving closer towards forming a new government after its opposition leader was given the first shot at making at coalition.

In a blow to Benjamin Netanyahu’s hopes of clinging onto power, president Isaac Herzog announced on Saturday evening that he has asked former Israel Defence Forces (IDF) chief Gadi Eisenkot to form a new administration.

Last month’s election resulted in a virtual deadlock, with neither Eisenkot nor Netanyahu’s blocs reaching the required 61 seats for a majority in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.

Both sides require votes from Arab parties in order to get over the line, who have now nominated Eisenkot as leader in a bid to oust the current PM.

Eisenkot, who leads the centrist Yashar party, will now have 28 days to cobble together a coalition, with a further 14 day extension possible if negotiations haven’t succeeded by then.

Responding to Herzog’s statement, Eisenkot said he would form a ‘national emergency government’ to address current issues facing the country.

‘I will do everything to ensure we are worthy,’ he said.

The latest development comes after elections on October 28 left Netanyahu’s bloc with 53 seats, while Eisenkot’s core centre-left to right coalition managed 48 seats.

Eisenkot, 66, a former military leader and IDF chief of staff, entered politics in 2022 and briefly served in Netanyahu’s war cabinet, having since been a critic of the Likud leader and his handling of the Gaza military campaign.

The son of Moroccan immigrants, Eisenkot would be the first prime minister of Mizrahi heritage, a term that describes Jewish communities of North African or Middle Eastern descent.

While pushing his security credentials and opposition to a Palestinian state, Eisenkot has also positioned himself against settler violence in the West Bank, describing recent incidents as ‘Jewish terror’.

The opposition leader faces several obstacles to power. He has three potential routes, all of which have complications.

Firstly, he could form a coalition with Arab parties, although he dismissed this possibility before the election.

Other unlikely options include an agreement with ultra-orthodox Jewish parties, which Eisenkot has previously rejected, or the distant possibility of a unity government with Netanyahu.

Should Eisenkot fail to get the numbers he needs, another leader would be given the opportunity to form a coalition, with fresh elections on the cards if no government is in place within 100 days.

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