Eisenkot, a former military chief of staff who ran as Netanyahu's main challenger, now has up to six weeks to assemble a coalition with a parliamentary majority. That task is widely seen as difficult in a country deeply divided after the Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, and the three years of war that have followed in Gaza and beyond.

During consultations with the president this week, representatives of most of Israel's major parties recommended that Eisenkot be given the first chance to form a government. However, the arithmetic of building a majority in the Knesset remains fraught, and it is unclear whether Eisenkot can bridge the gaps among parties with divergent views on the war, the economy, and the role of religion in public life.

The mandate hands Eisenkot, a relative newcomer to electoral politics, the initiative in a political landscape reshaped by the conflict. His campaign positioned him as a steady hand capable of restoring public trust and addressing the security and social fissures exposed by the war. If he succeeds, he would become the first prime minister in more than a decade not named Benjamin Netanyahu.

For Netanyahu, the president's decision is a sharp reversal. His Likud party remains a formidable force, but the recommendations from most parties signaled that a majority of the newly elected parliament prefers to explore an alternative. Netanyahu has repeatedly warned against what he describes as a dangerous shift in leadership during wartime, and his allies are expected to work to complicate Eisenkot's path.

The coming weeks will test whether Israel's fragmented party system can produce a stable government. Eisenkot must negotiate with potential partners across the political spectrum, including parties that have ruled out serving under Netanyahu but may be wary of some of Eisenkot's own positions. Failure to form a coalition within the six-week window would open the door to further political uncertainty, possibly another election.

The president's announcement came as protesters gathered outside his residence in Jerusalem, with some calling for a unity government that would include both Netanyahu and Eisenkot. The demonstration underscored the public's fatigue with prolonged political instability and its desire for a leadership capable of addressing the country's pressing challenges.

Herzog's decision follows the tradition of granting the mandate to the candidate with the best chance of assembling a majority, based on recommendations from party representatives. In this case, the majority of parties pointed to Eisenkot, reflecting a desire for change after years of Netanyahu-led governments and the trauma of the war.

The stakes extend beyond Israel's borders. The next government will inherit responsibility for the ongoing conflict in Gaza, relations with the United States and regional powers, and the domestic reconstruction effort. Eisenkot's military background and his stated commitment to a more inclusive politics have raised expectations among supporters, while critics question whether he can translate his security credentials into effective civilian governance.

As the coalition talks begin, all eyes will be on whether Eisenkot can turn the president's nod into a working government — or whether Israel's political deadlock will persist.