Jerusalem: Israel desperately needs new leadership following its formalisation of its new government, according to Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot.
Eisenkot received the mandate on Sunday, November 8 after receiving recommendations from 67 of the 120 elected members of the Knesset. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received recommendations from just 46 members while seven chose not to give any.
Now former head of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), Eisenkot has 28 days to create a government. He can request up to 14 more days from President Herzog.
“Israel needs change,” Eisenkot said after receiving the mandate. “If we continue to go down the road we are going right now, we risk falling into dark places that will be very difficult for us to rise out of.”
‘Great urgency for new leadership’
“If we continue in the present situation, we risk descending to dark places, to a point of no return from which it will be very hard for us as a society and country to come back from,” Eisenkot said.
“There is a great need for new leadership that people can trust in, leadership that will be doing what is best for the country and its security.”
His appointment poses a huge challenge for Netanyahu who led his Likud party to win most votes as an individual party in the October 27 elections but lost out on receiving the most recommendations.
No clear majority
In the October 27 elections, which were seen as a referendum on Netanyahu’s leadership, a split Knesset was created with no clear majority.
Netanyahu’s bloc received 53 seats while the anti-Netanyahu alliance (or Change Bloc) received 48 seats. This left 19 seats for Arab parties meaning the new parliament will be split.
While Likud won most votes, not all of Netanyahu’s bloc recommended him. The seven members of the United Torah Judaism party chose not to give any recommendations.
This meant Eisenkot received the most recommendations from 67 members compared to Netanyahu’s 46. However, finding enough support to create a stable government remains an issue as there are disagreements between the political blocs.
Herzog stresses disagreements
During the ceremony at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, Herzog said he had spoken to representatives from all the factions elected to the 26th Knesset under Section 7 of Israel’s Basic Law: The Government.
“They were open, honest and transparent conversations that capture the essence of democracy,” Herzog said.
“the disputes, the painful points, and, of course, the multitude of voices within Israeli society and politics”
Despite knowing Likud won the most votes as an individual faction, Herzog gave Eisenkot the duty of attempting to create the new government.
Eisenkot must find enough political support to create a government that can gain the confidence of parliament.