Gadi Eisenkot wins majority support as Netanyahu faces political crisis

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing mounting political pressure after former military chief and Yashar Party leader Gadi Eisenkot reportedly secured the backing of a majority of Knesset members to become the country’s next prime minister.

According to foreign media reports, 67 members of parliament have recommended Eisenkot for the premiership, compared with 46 lawmakers who have expressed support for Netanyahu.

The latest political development emerged following consultations held by Israeli President Isaac Herzog with representatives of political parties to determine who should receive the mandate to form the next government.

Herzog confirmed that representatives of parliamentary factions comprising 67 lawmakers had recommended Eisenkot, while factions representing 46 members had backed the incumbent prime minister.

The Israeli president said further discussions with party leaders would take place to clarify the political situation before he assigns the government-formation mandate on Sunday.

The reported support for Eisenkot represents a significant challenge for Netanyahu, whose prospects of returning to power have weakened amid growing uncertainty within his political alliances.

Adding to Netanyahu’s difficulties, the United Torah Judaism party has refused to recommend any candidate for prime minister, further complicating efforts to secure the parliamentary support needed to form a government.

Israeli media reported that both factions of the seven-seat religious party declined to endorse either Eisenkot or Netanyahu during consultations with the president.

The party’s religious leadership also reportedly instructed its representatives not to support any candidate, leaving Netanyahu without an important potential source of backing.

The political developments have intensified uncertainty over Israel’s next government and raised questions about the future of Netanyahu’s leadership.

Eisenkot’s reported support from 67 lawmakers places him in a stronger position at this stage of the consultations. However, the final outcome will depend on the president’s decision and the ability of political parties to establish a workable parliamentary majority.

With Herzog expected to announce his decision on Sunday, Israel’s political landscape could be heading towards a major shift.

For Netanyahu, who has dominated Israeli politics for years, the latest developments represent another serious test of his political survival.