Eisenkot: Israel Government Arab Lists Back PM Bid

• Gadi Eisenkot received endorsements from the Joint List and Ra'am, Israel's largest Arab lists, to form the next government.
• Incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lost the recommendation of United Torah Judaism, a key religious ally, for the first time in five elections.
• Neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot secured a majority in the October 27 Israeli election, leaving President Isaac Herzog to decide who gets the mandate.
• The Arab-majority parties collectively won an unprecedented 19 seats, positioning them as potential kingmakers in the government formation process.
• A major policy debate centers on military service exemptions for religious students, with Eisenkot advocating for their end and UTJ pushing to maintain them.

The unprecedented gains by Arab-majority parties, fueled by discontent over Netanyahu's previous hard-right government and its ministers' rhetoric regarding Arab-Israelis, introduce a complex variable.

The recent Israeli election, held on October 27, concluded without a clear majority for either of the leading contenders, incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party and former military chief. This outcome has thrust President Isaac Herzog into a pivotal role, as he conducts consultations with political parties to determine who will be tasked with forming the next Israel government. While Herzog ultimately makes the decision, tradition dictates that the mandate is typically granted to the individual who garners recommendations from the most parties.

In a significant development, Israel's largest Arab list, the Joint List, and Ra'am, publicly declared their backing for Gadi Eisenkot to become prime minister. This endorsement notably strengthens Eisenkot's prospects, especially as Netanyahu experienced a crucial loss of support from a long-standing ally. The Joint List, which secured 11 seats in the 120-member parliament, formally communicated its decision to President Herzog, recommending Eisenkot for the government formation. Ra'am, having won eight seats, also confirmed its endorsement of Eisenkot, collectively bringing the Arab lists' representation to an unprecedented 19 seats.

The political landscape was further complicated by the decision of United Torah Judaism (UTJ), a religious party that has consistently supported Benjamin Netanyahu in the past five elections. During its meeting with President Herzog, UTJ declined to recommend Netanyahu for prime minister this time. The party, which holds seven seats, explicitly stated its decision not to endorse any member of Knesset to form a government, although it did not pivot to support Eisenkot either. This move by United Torah Judaism represents a significant Benjamin Netanyahu support loss, altering the traditional dynamics of Israel government formation.

Netanyahu, a polarizing right-winger who has overseen three years of conflict, and Eisenkot, who campaigns on a platform of national unity, both failed to secure sufficient votes for a majority on their own. Netanyahu's bloc commands 53 seats, though United Torah Judaism declined to recommend him. Eisenkot's bloc holds 48 seats, and he has received recommendations from parties representing a total of 67 lawmakers, including the Joint List and Ra'am. The substantial gains made by Arab-majority parties, securing 19 seats, position them as potential kingmakers, though it remains uncertain whether Eisenkot's broader opposition would agree to collaborate with them.

A central point of contention in the current political discourse revolves around the exemption from military service for religious students. United Torah Judaism has consistently advocated for maintaining this exemption, a stance shared by another ultra-Orthodox party, Shas. Netanyahu, while preserving the exemption, has refrained from codifying it into law, a position that has generated considerable resentment among many Israelis, particularly reservists who face multiple tours of duty due to ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.

Conversely, Gadi Eisenkot, who has sought to appeal to a broad spectrum of secular Israelis, has been unequivocal in his commitment to ending these military service exemptions. Some of his opposition allies have openly criticized the ultra-Orthodox community, which constitutes approximately 14% of the population and exhibits significantly higher birthrates than secular Israelis, viewing them as a burden on the state. Observers suggest that United Torah Judaism's current strategy is likely a calculated effort to penalize Netanyahu and underscore that their electoral support cannot be taken for granted, even if they would ultimately participate in a government he were to form.

The process of forming a new Israel government is now in motion, with President Herzog's decision on who receives the mandate being the next critical step. Once a lawmaker is designated, they will be granted a period of 28 days to assemble a governing coalition, with the possibility of a 14-day extension if needed. Should the initial lawmaker fail to form a government within this timeframe, President Herzog would then assign the task to another individual.

The unprecedented gains by Arab-majority parties, fueled by discontent over Netanyahu's previous hard-right government and its ministers' rhetoric regarding Arab-Israelis, introduce a complex variable. While Eisenkot could theoretically form a government with the support of the Arab lists, such a move carries the risk of alienating certain members of his opposition, such as Avigdor Liberman. Liberman, a former aide to Netanyahu who has become a vocal critic, nonetheless shares the outgoing government's hawkish views on Palestinian issues, highlighting the delicate balance Eisenkot must strike in his pursuit of the prime minister role.

Lawyers advising clients with operations or investments in Israel should closely monitor the formation of the new government and its stated policy priorities, as shifts in leadership could lead to changes in regulatory frameworks, economic policies, or enforcement approaches that may impact business operations and compliance requirements.

Source: Original reporting via AFP.