Democrats Recommend Eisenkot to Form Israel’s Next Government

Israel’s Democrats party recommended Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government during consultations with President Isaac Herzog on Thursday, November 5. The meeting took place as Herzog heard from factions elected to the 26th Knesset about whom they wanted to receive the government-forming task. The President’s Spokesperson said the Democrats asked that Eisenkot “be tasked with forming a government.” The party’s delegation included lawmakers Naama Lazimi, Efrat Rayten and Gilad Kariv, alongside Gabriela Lasky-Shotz and Yaya Fink. Their recommendation followed that of Yisrael Beitenu, whose representatives backed Eisenkot in their consultation with Herzog on November 4. Other factions expressed different positions in Thursday’s meetings. Otzma Yehudit recommended Benjamin Netanyahu, with ministers Yitzhak Wasserlauf and Amichai Eliyahu among its representatives. United Torah Judaism told Herzog it had decided not to recommend any Knesset member. Its delegation included lawmakers Yitzhak Pindrus and Yitzhak Goldknopf. The official announcements recorded those separate faction decisions rather than announcing a presidential choice. The President’s Spokesperson’s updated schedule listed further consultations on November 5 with Ra’am, the Joint List, Be’Yahad, Yashar! and Likud. The Democrats’ recommendation was therefore one position submitted during the consultations, while the announced timetable still included meetings with additional parties.