Jerusalem, 4 November, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman on Wednesday recommended that President Isaac Herzog assign MK Gadi Eisenkot the mandate to form Israel’s next government.
The recommendation comes as party representatives meet with the president during the formal consultations following the October 27 elections.
Liberman’s endorsement adds Yisrael Beiteinu’s support to Eisenkot’s bid to receive the first opportunity to assemble a governing coalition. However, securing the mandate does not guarantee the formation of a government, and Eisenkot still faces the challenge of assembling a 61-member Knesset majority.
Liberman has previously explored the possibility of forming a government with Haredi parties while excluding Arab factions, indicating that coalition negotiations could extend beyond the immediate presidential consultations.
The recommendations will help Herzog determine which candidate has the best-supported claim to receive the mandate, although the final decision rests with the president.