Eisenkot Seeks 61 Seats to Oust Netanyahu in Israeli Vote

Gadi Eisenkot, Israel’s former military chief of staff, is positioned to challenge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for power following Tuesday's election. The 66-year-old leads the centrist party Yashar, which has emerged as the primary opposition force. Preliminary counts indicate that neither Eisenkot nor Netanyahu has secured an outright majority on their own.

Local media projections place Netanyahu’s Likud bloc at 53 seats. Eisenkot’s coalition of center-right and liberal figures is projected to hold 48 seats. Arab-led parties are expected to win 19 seats. The Knesset requires 61 seats for a governing majority. Neither main bloc reaches that threshold without additional partners.

Eisenkot’s path to the prime minister's office depends on allying with the Arab-led blocs. Netanyahu and many within Likud have ruled out such a partnership. Eisenkot has not excluded it. Yousef Jabareen, the leader of the Joint List of Arab parties, has called for a Jewish-Arab partnership to replace the current government.

The coalition building process faces internal friction. Eisenkot risks losing support from right-wing allies if he joins hands with minority Arab parties. To mitigate this, Yashar has asked Arab parties to publicly affirm four principles. These include recognizing Israel as a Jewish and democratic state and agreeing that Hamas is a terrorist organization that must be disarmed.

The coalition also seeks agreement that ultra-Orthodox Jews and Palestinian citizens of Israel should no longer be exempt from mandatory military service. Lian Polak-David, a Yashar candidate, noted on Tuesday night that no ultra-Orthodox or Arab party currently supports all four principles. This creates a diplomatic hurdle for Eisenkot’s campaign.

Time is a critical factor in the formation process. Eisenkot must reach an agreement quickly to avoid a second round of elections. Thousands of citizens traveled to Israel to vote in the first round and may not return for a second. Arab parties typically see lower turnout in subsequent elections, which could weaken their negotiating power.

Eisenkot has campaigned on a platform of accountability and security reform. He supports a state inquiry into the failures that preceded the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, 2023. That day, militants killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Israel’s subsequent war in Gaza has resulted in the death of over 74,000 Palestinians, according to the territory’s health ministry.

The former commander is also advocating for expanding the military draft to include the ultra-Orthodox population. He plans to follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza and reduce tensions in the West Bank. Eisenkot supports settlements but says he would evacuate unauthorized outposts. He remains a hawkish figure, having supported military operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.

Eisenkot’s personal history has shaped his political profile. His son, Gal Meir Eisenkot, died in combat in Gaza. Two of his nephews, also deployed to the front lines, were killed in the same war. These losses have bolstered his credibility among voters who view him as a leader who understands the cost of war. He previously resigned from Netanyahu’s war cabinet in June 2024, citing political interference in military decision-making.

The former military chief described his campaign as a break from a culture of division. He told supporters in Tel Aviv that millions of Israelis are tired of the current leadership. His challenge now is to translate that voter sentiment into a stable government. The ability to form a coalition will determine whether he can unseat the long-serving prime minister.