Gadi Eisenkot Tapped To Form Government
Israel’s president gave Netanyahu rival Gadi Eisenkot a chance to build a coalition.
November 7, 2026 · Updated Nov 7, 7:45pm ET
Los Angeles TimesIsrael’s president taps opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot to form a new government
CBS NewsIsrael's president taps opposition candidate Eisenkot to form a government, in setback for Netanyahu
FOX NewsIsraeli president taps Netanyahu rival to form government as coalition battle looms
CNNIn setback to Netanyahu, rival Eisenkot to be tasked with forming next Israeli government. But the path remains complicated
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Breitbart NewsIsrael’s president taps opposition candidate Eisenkot to form a government, in setback for Netanyahu
Boston GlobeIsraeli opposition leader tapped to try to form government
Associated PressIsrael’s president taps opposition candidate Eisenkot to form a government, in setback for Netanyahu
Washington TimesIsrael’s president taps opposition candidate Eisenkot to form a government, in setback for Netanyahu
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BBC NewsIsrael president asks opposition leader Eisenkot to form government
Washington ExaminerHerzog picks Israeli opposition leader to form coalition government
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AxiosNetanyahu rival Eisenkot tapped to form Israeli government
Daily MailNetanyahu rival is asked to form a government by Israel's president
MS NOWIsrael’s president taps Netanyahu rival Eisenkot to form government
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35%
Left · 10
31%
Center · 9
34%
Right · 10
Pano rates the coverage Balanced.
What happened
- Israeli President Isaac Herzog
Isaac HerzogPresident of Israel since 2021 chose opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot
Gadi EisenkotIsraeli military officer to try to form a government, with the formal handover of the mandate scheduled for Sunday. - Eisenkot received recommendations from 67 of parliament’s 120 lawmakers, including two Arab-led parties, compared with 46 for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- Those endorsements do not guarantee a coalition, as some parties backing Eisenkot oppose governing with or relying on Arab-led parties.
- Eisenkot called for a “national emergency government,” while Netanyahu, who remains prime minister during negotiations, called for a unity government.
- Eisenkot will have 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to assemble a government; if he fails, Herzog could give another candidate a chance.
How the left told it
Left-leaning outlets framed the choice as a setback for Netanyahu while stressing Eisenkot’s difficult path to power. CNN described a majority “on paper” but no governing coalition, while The Guardian and Los Angeles Times highlighted Arab-led parties’ pivotal support and opposition within Eisenkot’s bloc to working with them.
How the right told it
Right-leaning outlets also framed the decision as a setback for Netanyahu, emphasizing that Eisenkot’s endorsements may not produce a coalition. Fox News stressed deep disagreements among his supporters, and Breitbart called coalition-building a “formidable obstacle.” RedState took a more skeptical tone, describing the political math as looking “insurmountable.”
Israeli Election Impasse
Part of the storyline · Storyline →- Nov 8Avigdor Liberman Backs Gadi Eisenkot CoalitionMostly Right
- Nov 7Gadi Eisenkot Tapped To Form Government (this story)Balanced
- Nov 4Israel Certifies Election ResultsBalanced
- Oct 30Benjamin Netanyahu’s Party Claims Election StolenLeans Left
- Oct 29Israel’s Arab Parties Win Record SeatsBalanced
