Israel's President Picks Eisenkot Over Netanyahu to Try to Form a Government

Israel is heading toward a possible change at the top, and the next few weeks will decide who leads one of the closest allies of the United States. ABC News reported that on Sunday, November 8, 2026, Israeli President Isaac Herzog formally tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming the country's next government, passing over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The day before, on November 7, Herzog had announced his intention to give Eisenkot the job.

The move followed a national election on October 27 that produced no clear winner. When no single party or bloc wins a majority, the president decides who gets the first try at building a coalition. According to the official announcement from the president's office, factions with 67 members of Israel's parliament recommended Eisenkot, while factions with 46 members backed Netanyahu.

Eisenkot now has 28 days to put together a governing coalition, with a possible 14-day extension from the president. That is not a sure thing. He will need to bring together parties that do not always agree, and nothing is settled until a new government wins a confidence vote in Israel's parliament. By several accounts he would need the support of Arab-led parties to reach the 61 seats required for a majority.

Netanyahu is not out of the picture. He stays on as prime minister until a new government is sworn in, and if Eisenkot cannot form one, Netanyahu could get a chance to try. In short, the question of who will lead Israel may not be answered for weeks.

Why follow this from here at home? Israel is a longtime partner of the United States, and the two governments work closely on security and on troubles across the Middle East. A change in leadership there can shape talks on regional conflicts and on the wider stability of the region.

For now, the practical takeaway is patience. Headlines may swing back and forth as the coalition talks play out. The real test is whether Eisenkot can assemble enough support to govern within his 28 days, or whether the effort passes back to Netanyahu. Either way, the outcome will matter well beyond Israel's borders, including for American interests in the region.