Segal: Eisenkot to get first mandate, not Netanyahu

With the final vote count now complete, the political drama moves to the President's Residence: President Herzog has sent invitations to party leaders for this Wednesday to begin the formal recommendation process for who should be tasked with forming the next government. Channel 12 political analyst Amit Segal offered a clear assessment today (Sunday) of who will receive the first mandate.

"Under the reasonable assumption that Eisenkot will have more recommenders, he will receive the mandate to form a government for four weeks with an option to extend for two more weeks," Segal stated. The analyst emphasized that given the balance of power between the blocs, "I struggle to see a scenario in which Netanyahu receives it first."

Under Israeli law, the president has 14 days from receiving the official results to assign the task of forming a government to a Knesset member who has agreed to accept it. The member tasked with forming the government receives 28 days (approximately four weeks), with the president authorized to grant an additional extension of up to 14 days (two more weeks) if necessary.

Segal's assessment rests on the final mandate map from the 2026 elections: while the right-wing and chareidi bloc led by Benjamin Netanyahu holds 53 seats, the opposition bloc led by Eisenkot (48 seats) together with the Arab parties (19 seats) creates a bloc of 67 Knesset members who are likely to recommend him or refrain from recommending Netanyahu.