Israel's parliament sworn in as Eisenkot tries to forge government

Israel's parliament was sworn in on Tuesday without a new government following a deadlocked general election.

Knesset Members Take Oaths as Coalition Negotiations Stall

Israel's newly elected lawmakers took their oaths of office at the Knesset on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, following the general election held on October 27, 2026. The vote stripped caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of his parliamentary majority while leaving his political rivals without an immediate path to power. Israel's president, Isaac Herzog, formally tasked former general Gadi Eisenkot with forming a coalition government on Sunday, November 8, 2026.

President Herzog urged lawmakers during the swearing-in ceremony to avoid another electoral cycle.

"You must do everything to avoid a repeat election."

Isaac Herzog, President

Herzog further implored politicians to

"Reach out a hand for compromise, even between rivals... Look upon one another with generosity. There is much work to be done here, and it requires the ability and experience found in every part of this House."

Isaac Herzog, President

He also stressed that parliament is duty-bound to thoroughly investigate the catastrophe of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks while confronting ongoing security threats from Iran and its proxies.

Detail	Information
Current Caretaker Prime Minister	Benjamin Netanyahu
Designated Coalition Builder	Gadi Eisenkot
Total Knesset Seats	120
Likud Party and Right-Wing Allies Seats	53
Eisenkot's Yashar Party and Partner Factions Seats	48
Arab-Led Parties Seats	19
Initial Government-Formation Deadline	December 6
Potential Extension Deadline	December 20

Political Math and Competing Strategies in the New Parliament

Netanyahu remains in office as caretaker prime minister while coalition talks continue. His right-wing Likud party, allied with far-right and ultra-Orthodox factions, holds 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset. Meanwhile, Eisenkot's center-right Yashar party and its patchwork partner factions hold 48 seats. To bridge the gap, Eisenkot looks toward potential cooperation with Israel's Arab-led parties, which hold 19 seats and share a strong opposition to Netanyahu.

Eisenkot faces formidable obstacles across all available avenues for forming a government. His options include attempting a minority government backed by Arab parties, convincing hostile ultra-Orthodox parties to join his camp, or forging a unity government with Netanyahu. Ultra-Orthodox parties have maintained that they will not join an administration led by Eisenkot.

Netanyahu has publicly advocated for a unity government, warning of regional security threats.

"Only such a [unity] government will be capable of confronting challenges of this magnitude,"

Benjamin Netanyahu, Caretaker Prime Minister

Netanyahu argued, pointing to efforts by Iran to revive its nuclear program and the risk of international pressure. Concurrently, Netanyahu has questioned election integrity by alleging voter fraud among the Arab population, which makes up a fifth of the country. Election officials reported no evidence of misconduct capable of altering the election outcome.

Bills and Legislative Actions Filed in the Opening Session

Immediately following the opening of parliament, Eisenkot and his allies introduced a slate of legislative proposals. These bills include measures to establish a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 attacks, impose term limits on the prime minister, and repeal the controversial judicial overhaul and other laws enacted during Netanyahu's tenure over the preceding four years.

The new parliamentary alignment also creates opportunities for Eisenkot to replace the current Knesset speaker, who is a member of Likud, and to advance the inquiry into the 2023 attacks that Netanyahu largely opposes but Arab parties support.

Amid the political maneuvering, the swearing-in ceremony featured emotional moments. Elisha Madan, a military reservist who lost both legs fighting in Gaza, was sworn in as a lawmaker and received a standing ovation from fellow politicians as he stood on his prosthetic legs to take the oath of office.

Eisenkot holds an initial deadline of December 6, 2026, to successfully forge a coalition, with the option to request a two-week extension until December 20, 2026. If Eisenkot's efforts collapse, President Herzog is expected to turn to Netanyahu to attempt coalition building, failing which additional candidates would receive a mandate before the country faces the prospect of a repeat election.