Eisenkot Mulls Forming Israel's First Immediate Post-Election Minority Government

In an interview on Oct. 10, Gadi Eisenkot outlined a contingency plan to head Israel's first post-election minority government if Yashar falls short of the 61-seat threshold. He would ask the 120-member Knesset to vote according to conscience, targeting only Zionist legislators who back a state commission on the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and Haredi conscription, while excluding Arab and Haredi factions. Experts explain that a simple majority can sustain a minority cabinet, citing Yitzhak Rabin’s 1993 and Benjamin Netanyahu’s 2025 experiences.

Eisenkot also warned against allowing Netanyahu to remain in a caretaker role if he cannot form a coalition. Polls suggest Netanyahu’s small-party allies may clear the 3.75% threshold, potentially limiting Eisenkot’s options. A recent strategic shift aims to make Yashar the largest party so President Isaac Herzog would assign him the mandate, a move that could strain prior opposition agreements.