Eisenkot pushes minority cabinet plan as rivals demand Zionist majority

Gadi Eisenkot is positioning himself as the prime ministerial candidate for the anti-Netanyahu bloc, proposing a minority government that would operate with as few as 58 seats. This strategy diverges from the traditional requirement of a permanent 61-seat majority, aiming to secure a confidence vote and then expand support within the Knesset. Eisenkot rejected the possibility of serving under Benjamin Netanyahu, even in a rotational arrangement, and views this path as the most viable way to change the current government if polls hold.

The plan faces immediate resistance from two key figures in the coalition. Avigdor Liberman categorically opposes a minority government, insisting on a Zionist majority from the start. He argued that another election is preferable to a cabinet that relies on Arab party votes or abstentions. Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, who lead the Beyachad list, share this preference for a government that does not depend on the parliamentary support of Arab parties. Bennett’s insistence on a unified Zionist front puts him at odds with Eisenkot’s narrower calculation.

Legal experts note that the distinction between forming a government and removing one is critical. Swearing in a new cabinet requires a majority in a confidence vote, meaning abstentions can allow a smaller group to take office. However, a constructive vote of no confidence against the sitting government still requires 61 MKs to back an alternative. Therefore, while the minority strategy could help install a new leadership, it would not allow the opposition to oust a standing Netanyahu government by simple majority.

Parallel to the government formation debate, opposition parties are nearing an agreement to replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. This move is intended to give the opposition control of the parliamentary agenda, even if Netanyahu remains as head of a caretaker government. The speaker is elected by public vote early in the new term, and the opposition hopes to assemble a majority that includes MKs from Arab parties. Candidates named include Chili Tropper, Matan Kahana, and Elazar Stern from Eisenkot’s list, alongside Meirav Ben-Ari and Eitan Ginzburg from the Bennett-Lapid list.

Liberman estimated this week that up to one-third of outgoing coalition MKs might vote against Ohana, provided they do so openly. No consensus candidate has been announced yet, but the bloc views this procedural victory as a necessary step before finalizing coalition terms. Eisenkot and Liberman met this week and agreed to prioritize voter turnout, though their fundamental disagreement on the size of the governing coalition remains unresolved.

The opposition also plans to advance a state commission of inquiry into the events of October 7 and implement changes to conscription law. Liberman seeks a bar on candidates facing criminal charges serving as prime minister, while other parties aim to limit the prime minister’s tenure and repeal parts of the outgoing government’s judicial reforms. Party teams have begun coordinating on these legislative priorities, though no binding agreement exists on the specific order or details of the bills. The memory of the previous Bennett-Lapid government, which collapsed before completing its legislative agenda, continues to influence the current negotiations.