In brief
Opposition chairman Gadi Eisenkot declared plans to create Israel's broadest government, pledging to leverage a voting majority to enact a state inquiry into the Oct. 7 attack, mandatory service, and the rollback of judicial reforms. He cited over half a million votes against Netanyahu and the 19 seats won by Arab‑led parties, but his claim is unverified.
In Jerusalem on Oct. 31, Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot told Xinhua that he intends to form the broadest possible government, citing a parliamentary majority from Tuesday’s elections. He pointed to the 48 seats won by his opposition bloc in the 120‑member Knesset, compared with 53 seats for the coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In a social media post, Eisenkot wrote that “Let no one mislead: In Israel, it is the parliament that gives its confidence to the government, not the other way around.”
He also claimed that more than half a million voters rejected Netanyahu’s government, a figure that has not yet been verified by an official source.
Eisenkot said he will pursue a clear parliamentary majority to advance several key initiatives: establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7 attack, mandatory service for all Israelis, and the repeal of Netanyahu‑backed judicial overhaul legislation.
He indicated that he might not need to form an outright government to mobilize a majority, instead seeking support from the 19 seats secured by Arab‑led parties, including the Joint List and the Muslima Ra’am party.
Xinhua reports the statements and acknowledges that the opposition’s seat count does not constitute a parliamentary majority in the Knesset, but Eisenkot’s strategy focuses on leverage through coalition agreements.
