Eisenkot pushes 58-seat path to power as rivals demand 61

Voters in the anti-Netanyahu camp face a choice between two distinct paths to government. Gadi Eisenkot wants to form a minority cabinet with as few as 58 seats. Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Liberman refuse to accept any government that lacks a full Zionist majority of 61 seats.

Most polls show the opposition bloc ahead of the current coalition. However, the change-seeking parties currently fall short of the 61 seats required to govern under existing agreements. Eisenkot proposes a government sworn in after a confidence vote without permanent backing from 61 members of the Knesset. The administration would then seek to widen its parliamentary support over time.

Legal experts note that swearing in a government requires a simple majority in a confidence vote. This means abstentions could allow a 58-seat bloc to take office. A constructive vote of no confidence against an incumbent, however, still requires 61 votes. This distinction limits the opposition's ability to remove a sitting Netanyahu government by simple majority.

Liberman categorically rejects the minority model. He insists on a Zionist majority from the start and calls for a unity government with Netanyahu if necessary. He has suggested bringing Likud members into a government without Netanyahu but has named no specific candidates. Bennett and Yair Lapid also demand a Zionist government and refuse to rely on votes or abstentions from Arab parties.

The opposition is also moving to replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. This move aims to give Netanyahu's opponents control of the parliamentary agenda. The bloc could draw on members from Arab parties to assemble a majority for a new speaker. Names raised for the role include Chili Tropper, Matan Kahana, and Oded Forer. No consensus candidate has been announced yet.

The parties have not settled on a list of legislative priorities. They want to advance a state commission of inquiry into October 7 and change conscription laws. Liberman seeks a bar on criminal defendants serving as prime minister. Party teams have begun coordinating on these issues, but no binding agreement exists. Obstacles remain, including constitutional hurdles for laws aimed at Netanyahu.

The memory of the previous Bennett-Lapid government, which collapsed before completing its agenda, looms over these discussions. Eisenkot and Liberman met this week but did not resolve their disagreement. They jointly called for higher voter turnout. The election remains close, and a small number of votes could decide whether Israel gets a new government or faces another round of turmoil.