Eisenkot proposes 58-seat path to power as rivals demand full majority

Gadi Eisenkot has proposed a plan to form a government with as few as 58 seats, a number that falls short of the 61 Knesset members required for a standard majority. The former defense chief aims to lead the anti-Netanyahu camp and serve as the primary candidate to form the next government. He rejects serving under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even in a rotational arrangement. Eisenkot believes his parties can win enough seats to form a cabinet without the traditional supermajority.

Under the proposed structure, the new government would be sworn in after winning a confidence vote. This process requires a majority in the chamber but does not strictly demand 61 affirmative votes. Abstentions would allow the cabinet to take office. The administration would then work to expand its support in the Knesset. This legal distinction separates the formation of a government from the removal of an incumbent one, which requires a constructive vote of no confidence backed by 61 members.

Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Liberman oppose this minority path. Bennett, who heads the Beyachad list with Yair Lapid, insists on a Zionist government and refuses to rely on the votes or abstentions of Arab parties. Liberman is even more categorical. He rejects a minority cabinet, even a transitional one, and demands a Zionist majority from the start. Liberman stated that another election is preferable to a government that fails to meet his conditions. He also proposed bringing Likud members into a government without Netanyahu, though he has not named specific allies or begun public talks.

The opposition bloc is also working to replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. Parties aim to secure control of the parliamentary agenda before any coalition is formed. This would allow them to manage the legislative schedule even if Netanyahu remains as caretaker. The speaker is elected early in the Knesset term in a public vote. The bloc could draw on members from Arab parties to assemble a majority behind an agreed candidate.

Names circulating for the speakership include Chili Tropper, Matan Kahana, and Elazar Stern from Eisenkot's party. Meirav Ben-Ari and Eitan Ginzburg represent the Bennett-Lapid list. Efrat Rayten of the Democrats and attorney Oded Forer of Yisrael Beytenu are also on the list. No consensus candidate has been announced yet. Liberman estimated this week that up to one-third of outgoing coalition members might vote against Ohana, provided they vote openly.

A meeting between Eisenkot and Liberman this week ended without a resolution on the government structure. They jointly called to raise voter turnout but maintained their disagreement on the path to power. Leadership rivalry persists, with Eisenkot seeking to head the largest party and Bennett viewing himself as the natural candidate due to his previous term as prime minister. Democrats chairman Yair Golan has not ruled out cooperating with the Ra'am party, though no agreed formula exists for this cooperation.

The bloc intends to advance several legislative priorities, including a state commission of inquiry into October 7. They also plan to change conscription law, limit the prime minister's tenure, and repeal parts of the outgoing government's judicial changes. Liberman additionally wants to bar people facing criminal charges from serving as prime minister. Party teams have begun coordinating on these issues, but no binding agreement exists on the details or the order of operations.