Point of no return: On Israel’s next government
The Hindu - Editorial · Published 10 November 2026 · Last updated
Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot has been tasked with forming Israel's next government after securing 67 endorsements in the Knesset, aiming to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid severe domestic and international crises.
Key points
- On November 8, 2026, Israeli President Isaac Herzog formally tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming the next government after a deadlocked election.
- The October 27 legislative elections left both major figures short of a clear majority in the 120-member Knesset.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party won 27 seats, finishing first in the parliamentary race.
- Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, leading the centrist Yashar party, secured 21 seats and finished second.
- Mr. Eisenkot successfully gathered the support of 67 legislators in the Knesset, surpassing the threshold needed to build a ruling coalition.
- Arab-led parties holding 19 seats offered in-principle support to the opposition leader to block a right-religious coalition.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured the backing of only 46 legislators according to international reports.
- Mr. Eisenkot warned that Israel faces a state of emergency and is approaching a point of no return due to unresolved conflicts.
- President Isaac Herzog cited active security threats from Iran and the urgent need to advance peace negotiations in Gaza and Lebanon.
Background
- The political crisis in Israel intensified following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people.
- The subsequent war in Gaza under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deepened Israel's international isolation and strained relations with the United States.
- Systemic violence and polarization surged across the West Bank under the influence of far-right political factions.
Prelims facts and Mains angle for this issue are in the full SWAदेSH note.
Original report: The Hindu - Editorial