Eisenkot Sets Four Conditions for New Israeli Government

Gadi Eisenkot, the leader of Israel's Yashar party, has outlined four specific requirements for any lawmaker wishing to join his proposed broad coalition.

Eisenkot posted the conditions on X on Saturday, October 31, 2026. The list includes recognizing Israel as a Jewish, democratic, liberal, and egalitarian state. It also requires upholding the values of the Declaration of Independence and instituting compulsory military or civilian service for all citizens. The final condition calls for recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization and committing to dismantle its military and governing capabilities in Gaza.

The move follows an election that produced a hung parliament. No single bloc secured the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-member Knesset. Anti-Netanyahu parties won 67 seats, while the outgoing coalition retained 53. This opposition total consists of 48 seats held by Zionist parties and 19 seats won by the Joint List and Raam, two Arab-led parties.

Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party finished as the largest single party with 27 seats. Eisenkot's Yashar party placed second with 21 seats. Eisenkot stated that a majority of Israeli voters rejected the outgoing government by a margin of more than half a million votes. He cited this result as a mandate to end what he called the government of October 7, a reference to the 2023 Hamas attack.

Eisenkot pledged to introduce legislation for a state commission of inquiry into the events of October 7. He also vowed to make national service compulsory and repeal the judicial overhaul laws passed by the previous administration. He described the current political situation as requiring an extraordinary effort to avoid another election and a prolonged crisis.

The numerical advantage of the opposition does not guarantee a governing majority. Several Jewish opposition leaders have expressed reluctance to formally cooperate with Arab parties. Eisenkot said the door to his government is open to every elected official who accepts his four principles. He emphasized that the Knesset, not external factors, holds the power to grant a mandate to a new government.

Eisenkot noted that the war against Israel's enemies is not yet finished. He stated that he will support military moves only if direct and immediate threats emerge that cannot wait for a new government to be sworn in. He characterized the coming weeks as complex and filled with political maneuvering, while committing to act with courage and commitment to the voters.