Israeli Politics: Eisenkot Proposes 58-Seat Path to Power

Gadi Eisenkot believes Israel can form a new government with fewer than 61 seats in the Knesset.

Eisenkot, who seeks to lead the anti-Netanyahu bloc, has proposed a minority cabinet that would win a confidence vote with 58 or 59 seats. This approach would allow the government to take office without permanent backing from 61 MKs. The plan relies on abstentions to pass the initial confidence vote, a legal distinction that allows a minority to govern while a sitting government remains in power.

Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Liberman oppose the strategy. Bennett, who leads the Beyachad list with Yair Lapid, insists on a Zionist government that does not rely on Arab party votes. Liberman rejects the minority model entirely, arguing that another election is preferable to a government that fails to meet his conditions. He claims some Likud MKs might join a cabinet without Netanyahu, though he has not named any willing participants.

Polls currently show the change-seeking camp ahead of the outgoing coalition, but not by enough to secure the 61 seats traditionally required for a majority. The final seat distribution depends on the electoral threshold and a small margin of votes. Eisenkot has not ruled out support from the Ra'am party, but no specific formula for that cooperation has been agreed upon. A meeting between Eisenkot and Liberman this week ended with a shared call to boost voter turnout, but their core disagreement over the government's structure remained unresolved.

The bloc is also working to replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana before any coalition deal is finalized. This move would give opposition parties control of the parliamentary agenda, even if Netanyahu remains head of a caretaker government. The speaker is elected in a public vote early in the term, and the bloc could use support from Arab party MKs to elect a candidate. Names under consideration include Chili Tropper, Matan Kahana, and Elazar Stern from Eisenkot's list, as well as Meirav Ben-Ari and Eitan Ginzburg from the Bennett-Lapid list. Liberman estimates that up to one-third of outgoing coalition MKs may vote against Ohana, provided the vote is open.

Beyond leadership, the parties are coordinating on a legislative agenda. Goals include a state commission of inquiry into October 7, changes to conscription laws, limits on the prime minister's tenure, and the repeal of certain judicial changes made by the current government. Liberman also wants a law barring anyone facing criminal charges from serving as prime minister. No binding agreement exists on the order or details of these measures, and constitutional hurdles remain for laws targeting Netanyahu. The memory of the previous Bennett-Lapid government, which collapsed before completing its promised laws, casts a shadow over the current effort.