Eisenkot’s Mandate: Four Conditions for Israel’s Next Coalition
The former defense minister has six weeks to assemble a government of 61 seats, demanding that partners accept specific terms on national identity, military service, and the status of Hamas.
By Anthony Shevchenko ·
Israeli President Isaac Herzog instructed Gadi Eisenkot on Sunday to form the country’s next government, setting a deadline of six weeks to secure a majority of 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset.
Eisenkot, who leads the Yashar Party, stated that his coalition will be built upon four specific principles. He invited all Knesset factions and individual members to join if they are prepared to sign on to these requirements. If Eisenkot fails to form a government, Herzog may task incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the assignment.
The mandate follows the October 27 election, during which Eisenkot campaigned on these four pillars as the foundation for a new national emergency government. His current coalition partners include B’Yachad, led by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, Yisrael Beitenu under Avigdor Liberman, and the Democrats party led by Yair Golan.
The first condition requires recognition of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. Eisenkot cited the 1948 Declaration of Independence, emphasizing its provisions for equal rights and freedom of religion for all citizens. This requirement creates a potential hurdle for the two Arab parties, which hold 19 seats, and for far-right or ultra-Orthodox groups that have sought to alter the judiciary’s role.
The second condition mandates universal service in the military, national, or civilian sectors. This provision targets the ultra-Orthodox parties, specifically United Torah Judaism and Shas, which have historically resisted including yeshiva students in the draft. The Supreme Court previously ruled that blanket exemptions for yeshiva students lack legal basis and violate equality principles. United Torah Judaism abstained from recommending Netanyahu for the premiership this week.
The third condition involves recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization and committing to dismantle its military and governing power. Leaders of the Ra’am Party and the Joint List have not publicly accepted this stance. Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas told Herzog that he has an unequivocal answer but needs space to remain a bridge. Joint List members argue that labeling Hamas as a terror group risks delegitimizing broader Palestinian political aspirations.
Eisenkot plans to send formal invitations to all Knesset factions immediately. He stated that the rule for partnership is simple: if a party or member accepts the four principles, they are potential partners in his government. The process aims to bring a new administration to swearing-in within the allotted timeframe.
