# Who is the prime minister of Israel?

*President Isaac Herzog tasked Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming a new government on November 8, 2026, and the president's office has not announced that one has been formed.*

- Type: News
- Section: World
- By: World Desk
- Published: 2026-11-11T23:11:48-05:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T23:11:48-05:00
- URL: https://factsdesk.com/world/who-is-the-prime-minister-of-israel/

## Key facts

- Benjamin Netanyahu, the leader of Likud, is the prime minister of Israel, as named in a statement the office of Israel's president published on November 8, 2026. Source: [Office of the President of Israel](https://www.president.gov.il/en/president-herzog-tasks-gadi-eisenkot-with-forming-a-government/). Confirmed 2026-11-11T23:11:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/world/who-is-the-prime-minister-of-israel/#benjamin-netanyahu-the-leader-of-likud-is-the-prime-minister
- President Isaac Herzog tasked Gadi Eisenkot, the leader of the Yashar party, with forming a government on November 8, 2026, at the President's Residence in Jerusalem. Source: [Office of the President of Israel](https://www.president.gov.il/en/president-herzog-tasks-gadi-eisenkot-with-forming-a-government/). Confirmed 2026-11-11T23:11:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/world/who-is-the-prime-minister-of-israel/#president-isaac-herzog-tasked-gadi-eisenkot-the-leader-of
- Factions totaling 67 members of the Knesset recommended Eisenkot, factions totaling 46 recommended Netanyahu, and one faction of 7 members recommended no one. Source: [Office of the President of Israel](https://www.president.gov.il/en/president-herzog-concludes-consultations-and-announces-he-will-task-gadi-eisenkot-with-forming-a-government/). Confirmed 2026-11-11T23:11:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/world/who-is-the-prime-minister-of-israel/#factions-totaling-67-members-of-the-knesset-recommended
- A member of the Knesset tasked with forming a government has 28 days to do so under Basic Law: The Government, and the president may grant up to 14 more days. Source: [Office of the President of Israel](https://www.president.gov.il/en/president-herzog-concludes-consultations-and-announces-he-will-task-gadi-eisenkot-with-forming-a-government/). Confirmed 2026-11-11T23:11:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/world/who-is-the-prime-minister-of-israel/#a-member-of-the-knesset-tasked-with-forming-a-government-has

## What is known

Verified:
- The office of Israel's president referred to Benjamin Netanyahu as the prime minister in its statements of November 7 and 8, 2026.
- President Isaac Herzog tasked Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming a government on November 8, 2026.
- President Herzog addressed the opening session of the 26th Knesset on November 10, 2026.

Not yet known:
- The president's office has not said whether Gadi Eisenkot has formed a government.
- No date has been stated for a Knesset vote on a new government.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the leader of Likud, is the prime minister of Israel. President Isaac Herzog called him "the Prime Minister and Likud Leader, Benjamin Netanyahu" in remarks his office published in its [statement of November 8, 2026](https://www.president.gov.il/en/president-herzog-tasks-gadi-eisenkot-with-forming-a-government/), the day Herzog tasked a different party leader, Gadi Eisenkot of Yashar, with forming a new government.

The president's office has not announced that a new government has been formed, and this page will be updated at this address when an official record states one.

## Who has been asked to form the next government

President Herzog tasked Gadi Eisenkot, the leader of the Yashar party, with forming a government at a ceremony at the President's Residence in Jerusalem on November 8, 2026, the president's office [said](https://www.president.gov.il/en/president-herzog-tasks-gadi-eisenkot-with-forming-a-government/). The statement describes Eisenkot as a lieutenant general in the reserves and the 21st Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces.

The decision followed consultations with the factions elected to the 26th Knesset. The [statement of November 7, 2026](https://www.president.gov.il/en/president-herzog-concludes-consultations-and-announces-he-will-task-gadi-eisenkot-with-forming-a-government/) gives the count.

| Recommendation | Members of Knesset |
| --- | --- |
| Gadi Eisenkot | 67 |
| Benjamin Netanyahu | 46 |
| No recommendation | 7 |

The three groups add up to 120 members. In his remarks on November 8, Herzog said: "I am well aware that Likud is the largest faction in the incoming Knesset." He said he based the decision on the recommendations and on precedents in which earlier presidents tasked the leader of a party that was not the largest.

## How long forming a government can take

A member of the Knesset who is tasked with forming a government has 28 days to do so under Basic Law: The Government, the president's office [said on November 7](https://www.president.gov.il/en/president-herzog-concludes-consultations-and-announces-he-will-task-gadi-eisenkot-with-forming-a-government/). If more time is needed, the president is authorized by law to grant an extension of up to 14 additional days.

## What has happened since

President Herzog [addressed the opening session of the 26th Knesset](https://www.president.gov.il/en/president-herzog-addresses-the-opening-session-of-the-26th-knesset/) on November 10, 2026. In that speech he told the members: "You must do everything to avoid a repeat election."

## What is not yet in the official record

The statements from the president's office do not say whether Eisenkot has formed a government, and they give no date for a Knesset vote on one. Until an official record states that a new government has taken office, the president's office statements of November 7 and 8, 2026 are the latest official record opened for this page that names the prime minister, and they name Benjamin Netanyahu.

## Sources

1. [President Herzog Tasks Gadi Eisenkot with Forming a Government](https://www.president.gov.il/en/president-herzog-tasks-gadi-eisenkot-with-forming-a-government/), Office of the President of Israel, 2026-11-08 (primary source)
2. [President Herzog Concludes Consultations and Announces He Will Task Gadi Eisenkot With Forming a Government](https://www.president.gov.il/en/president-herzog-concludes-consultations-and-announces-he-will-task-gadi-eisenkot-with-forming-a-government/), Office of the President of Israel, 2026-11-07 (primary source)
3. [President Herzog Addresses the Opening Session of the 26th Knesset](https://www.president.gov.il/en/president-herzog-addresses-the-opening-session-of-the-26th-knesset/), Office of the President of Israel, 2026-11-10 (primary source)