Israeli Opposition Leaders Back Eisenkot for Prime Minister After Deadlocked Election

General29 sourcesNov 3, 2026

SplitFactual rigor 53/100

The Story

Opposition party leaders in Israel agreed on Tuesday to back former military chief Gadi Eisenkot as their candidate for prime minister following an inconclusive general election held on October 27.

The leaders met in Herzliya to plan the formation of a government, aiming to replace the administration of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu's right-wing coalition secured 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while the Zionist opposition alliance led by Eisenkot won 48 seats. The remaining 19 seats were won by two Arab-led lists, the Joint List and Raam, after a surge in voter turnout among Arab citizens.

The opposition bloc remains divided over whether to ally with the Arab parties to achieve a majority of 61 seats. Eisenkot outlined four principles for the proposed government, including that all coalition parties recognize Israel as a Jewish state and label Hamas a terrorist group. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would discontinue financial assistance to Israel by the end of 2026. Opposition figures criticized Netanyahu for failing to inform key institutions of the impending aid cutoff.

What they agree on

Neither leading political bloc secured the 61-seat majority required to govern in the 120-member Knesset following the October 27 election.
Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition won 53 seats, while the opposition alliance led by Gadi Eisenkot secured 48 seats.
Arab-led parties, including the Joint List and Raam, won a combined 19 seats in the election.
Five opposition party heads met in Herzliya on Tuesday and agreed to recommend Eisenkot to President Isaac Herzog for the first mandate to form a government.

Where they split

Al Jazeera and Haaretz emphasize the political isolation and internal opposition debate surrounding potential cooperation with the Arab-led parties, whereas The Jerusalem Post highlights Eisenkot's four core principles which could exclude some Arab lawmakers.
Daily Sabah and Middle East Eye focus heavily on opposition leaders condemning Netanyahu over the US decision to end financial assistance, while other coverage centers primarily on coalition arithmetic and parliamentary negotiations.