'The eyes of the entire nation are upon you,' Herzog gives Eisenkot mandate to form next government
Herzog told Eisenkot that “the eyes of the entire nation, with all its pain, hopes, prayers, and fears, are upon you.” Eisenkot will seek consent to form a government based on four parties
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has officially awarded the mandate to form the 26th Knesset government to Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, in a ceremony at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem. Herzog came to the decision following consultations with party delegations.
Herzog said the representatives from parties totaling 67 members of Knesset recommended Eisenkot, while others, totaling 46, recommended Prime Minister and Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu. The representatives from the United Torah Judaism Party, with seven Knesset seats, chose to refrain from recommending any candidate.
Highlighting this difference in support, President Herzog said during his mandate cermeony speech that, “it is therefore evident that Mr. Eisenkot has received the clear and unequivocal support of a majority of Members of Knesset on the most central question: who has the better chance of forming the next government that will win the confidence of the Knesset.”
While Herzog acknowledged that Likud is the largest Party he pointed to precedents set by his predecessors, who “in several cases tasked the leader of a party that was not the largest with forming the government.”
“The challenges facing the State of Israel are immense,” Herzog said, citing Iran, which “does not pause for a moment in its schemes and threats,” the fight against terror and the need to heal the wound of October 7th. “The State of Israel needs a stable government that can meet them over time,” he said.
Addressing Eisenkot directly, Herzog said: “And on a personal note: dear Gadi, I have known you for decades, since you completed your command of the Golani Brigade. You bring with you outstanding qualities of leadership. You have commanded soldiers from every part of the Israeli people and Israeli society. Your face bears the scars of bullets from decades of command and combat, from your days as a combat soldier to your service as the 21st Chief of the General Staff of the IDF. And your soul bears the most terrible scar of all: the heaviest price of all, paid by you and your family with the fall of your beloved son Gal and your two nephews in the war.”
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During his speech, Gadi Eisenkot said offered a pressing message stating that, "there is an urgent need for new, great leadership." Eisenkot also claimed that he was convinced that it is possible to "swiftly form" a new government with a "substantial majority" in the Knesset.
The Yashar Party leader also warned agaisnt dragging things out and returning to another round of elections. “No one will be able to fulfill all the commitments they made, and we are all required to compromise,” he said.
Eisenkot will meet with Yisrael Beiteinu Party leader Avidgor Lieberman tomorrow to reach an agreement. If Eisenkot fails to form a government, Netanyahu could next be given the chance as well.
Separately, Aryeh Deri is withdrawing from the Shas list for the Knesset, and two other Shas members, Dror Amos and Moshe Abutbul, are withdrawing along with him.