Bennett's Party Says It Will Recommend Eisenkot for Prime Minister as Israel's Election Stays Deadlocked

Naftali Bennett announced that his party will recommend Gadi Eisenkot as Israel's next prime minister, according to Times of Israel. The announcement came on November 1, 2026, four days after the October 28 election, which did not give either major bloc a clear majority.

Eisenkot is a centrist former military chief and the main challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Joint List and Ra'am, two parties that are also in the running for seats, are expected to recommend Eisenkot as well when they consult with President Isaac Herzog, according to the Jerusalem Post. In Israel, the president holds consultations with party leaders after an election, and each party names the candidate it backs for prime minister.

Netanyahu is seeking to remain prime minister, which would make him Israel's longest-serving one. Early in the count, he pulled ahead as votes were tallied on October 28, according to Reuters. His Likud party emerged as the largest party in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, and Times of Israel reported that Likud won 27 seats.

Even so, Netanyahu's bloc of parties leads Eisenkot's bloc but falls short of a majority, Reuters reported. Because of that gap, Netanyahu was set to remain a caretaker prime minister, meaning he would stay in office in a temporary role until a new government is formed, after the inconclusive vote.

Reuters has also reported on possible routes out of the deadlock, but the outcome of the consultations remains open. Who is ultimately asked to form a government will depend on the recommendations the president receives and the coalitions that can be assembled in the Knesset.