Israel’s opposition leaders back Eisenkot to oust Netanyahu | Israel Election 2026 News
Opposition Leaders Unite to Support Eisenkot for Prime Minister
HERZLIYA, Israel — Leaders of Israel’s opposition parties have united to endorse former military chief Gadi Eisenkot as their candidate for prime minister, vowing to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government expeditiously. The five-party coalition met Tuesday in Herzliya, marking their first collective gathering since the October 27 election, which resulted in no clear majority within the 120-seat Knesset.
This announcement comes just a day before President Isaac Herzog is scheduled to begin consultations with various parties regarding the formation of the next government. However, the opposition remains divided on potential alliances with Arab-led parties, whose support may prove crucial.
In a joint statement, the leaders committed to recommending Eisenkot, head of the Yashar party, to Herzog. They also announced that negotiating teams would start drafting policy guidelines and coalition agreements immediately.
“The party leaders are coordinated and will act without delay to replace the ‘Oct. 7 government’ with a national emergency government,” the statement affirmed. Notable figures at the meeting included Eisenkot, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman, Yair Golan of the Democrats, and Yair Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid party.
The leaders reiterated four principles outlined by Eisenkot, which stipulate that all government parties must recognize Israel as a Jewish state and classify Hamas as a terrorist organization—conditions that could exclude some Arab parties from participation. “We don’t have time; we must act with great urgency,” Bennett told reporters following the meeting.
In the recent elections, Netanyahu’s bloc secured 53 seats, while the opposition garnered 48, and Arab-led parties won 19 seats—11 for the Joint List and eight for Ra’am. A governing coalition requires a minimum of 61 seats.
Yousef Jabareen, head of the largest Arab-led party in the newly elected Knesset, urged the opposition to acknowledge “political reality” and collaborate to oust Netanyahu. Golan is the sole opposition leader openly advocating for an alliance with Arab-led parties, asserting that it is unjust to exclude them. He previously met with Arab party leaders and pledged to address the issue of high crime rates affecting Palestinian citizens of Israel.
Despite this, Liberman has expressed firm opposition to including Arab parties in any coalition, even as he seeks to avoid another election.
The political landscape for Israel’s Arab citizens—a group that comprises about 20 percent of the nation’s population—has been characterized by marginalization, a situation exacerbated by recent events including the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Reports indicate that at least two former Palestinian politicians and one current Knesset member have faced arrest for remarks critical of Israeli policies in the region.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu is advocating for a “broad national government” under his leadership, asserting that his Likud party, which garnered 27 seats, remains the largest in the Knesset. No opposition leaders have indicated willingness to join him, and Netanyahu has rejected alliances with Arab-majority parties, alleging they “support terrorism and deny the existence of the Jewish state.”
Netanyahu, facing trial on corruption charges and an international warrant related to alleged war crimes, oversees a government during a time when over 74,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Gaza since the onset of conflict in October 2023.
Herzog is expected to hold consultations with party leaders on Wednesday and Thursday, and Eisenkot may receive significant backing if he succeeds in securing support from Arab lawmakers.
