Opposition Leaders Back Eisenkot for First Mandate as Results Fight Continues

Update, Nov. 3, 11 AM CT

Opposition backs Eisenkot. Leaders of Yesh Atid, B'Yachad, Yisrael Beytenu, the Democrats and Yashar met in Herzliya and agreed that all five parties will recommend Gadi Eisenkot to President Herzog for the first mandate to form a government. In a joint statement, they said they would act immediately to replace the "Oct. 7 government" with a "national emergency government" (Jerusalem Post, Al Jazeera; first flagged in an X story summary).

Next steps. The parties' negotiating teams are starting to draft coalition agreements and policy guidelines. Consultations at the President's Residence begin Wednesday, and the new Knesset is sworn in on Nov. 10 (Jerusalem Post).

The math. The leaders' statement speaks of a "clear parliamentary majority." The final count gives their bloc 48 seats, short of the 61 needed, without the Arab parties' 19. A majority would therefore depend on Arab party support or defections. The statement did not say how they would reach 61 (Al Jazeera). This follows this morning's reporting, below, that the bloc was split over the Arab parties.

Also today: Report: Israel Fully Closes Rafah Crossing Into Gaza, Halting Aid and Goods

The earlier Nov. 3 report follows.

Final count (reconfirmed): Netanyahu bloc 53, Eisenkot bloc 48, Arab parties 19. Likud has 27 seats, Yashar 21 and B'Yachad 12. Official results go to President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Opposition leaders meet

Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, Avigdor Liberman and Yair Golan held their first joint meeting, in Herzliya, ahead of Herzog's consultations on who gets the first chance to form a government (Ynet, Jerusalem Post).

The five are united on replacing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and want to oust Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, but they are split over the Arab parties. Liberman is pushing for a coalition without them. Without the Arab parties, the realistic options are a unity government, a minority government or another election.

The fight over the results

The head of the Central Elections Committee rejected Likud's demand for a briefing on suspected interference and said he cannot block publication of the results. Committee chair Noam Sohlberg called the vote "conducted properly," and police sources found no evidence of widespread fraud (Jerusalem Post, Jerusalem Post).

Netanyahu says the public doesn't want a government that depends on Ra'am and the Joint List. Golan met Joint List leaders Jabareen and Tibi to coordinate.

Lebanon

Israel asked Beirut, through mediators, to deploy Lebanese troops so Hezbollah stays out if war with Iran resumes, and warned that fighting will flare if Hezbollah attacks. That is Kan's report, citing a security source (Times of Israel).

Also today

• West Bank: the army pulled out of Hebron on Nov. 2 after a roughly 10-day siege, and displaced families are returning. OCHA logged a record 397 settler attacks in the first 26 days of October (Al Jazeera).
• Gaza: the Gaza Health Ministry says 1,593 people have been killed since last year's ceasefire, including at least 8 on Sunday (as reported by Al Jazeera).
• Zehut: party leader Moshe Feiglin calls the new Knesset "illegitimate" and wants new elections (Jerusalem Post).

Related

• Israel Election: Count Complete With Deadlock Unchanged; Official Results Due Wednesday
• U.S. Officials: Limited 'Defensive' Strikes Hit Iranian Missiles on Qeshm Island