STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
Israel is closer to ousting its longest-serving prime minister. Benjamin Netanyahu's main rival is holding talks to form a new government. Gadi Eisenkot has been given that chance unless Netanyahu somehow stops him. NPR's Lauren Frayer is in Tel Aviv.
Hi there, Lauren.
LAUREN FRAYER, BYLINE: Good morning, Steve.
INSKEEP: OK. So for those who did not know, introduce us to the man who has at least a chance to become prime minister.
FRAYER: Sure. He's a former Israeli military chief. His son was a reservist killed in combat in Gaza. Eisenkot is center-right compared to Netanyahu who led a far-right government. Eisenkot briefly served in Netanyahu's war cabinet after October 7 Hamas attacks. But the two men had a falling out. Eisenkot went on to found his own party, ran against his former boss in last month's election. Now, Eisenkot won fewer votes than Netanyahu, but neither one a majority. And other parties say they prefer Eisenkot. So that's why Israel's president tapped him first - a little bit unusual - to try to form a coalition. Now, that coalition-building could take days or weeks, though, and it is not likely to be easy.
INSKEEP: And if a majority of the 120 members wants him to try to be prime minister, why would it not be easy?
FRAYER: So Eisenkot - at least, initially - said he will not work with Arab-led parties. That's a position most Israeli lawmakers hold, which many Arabs call racist. Palestinian citizens of Israel make up about 20% of this country. They had record turnout in this election. They say they are willing to work with Eisenkot, and they could be the kingmakers. So Eisenkot is under pressure to work with them. Yet if he does, some of his other partners could bail on him.
Another issue for Eisenkot will be potentially wooing ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties into his government. They want exemptions from military service. So there are a lot of competing demands. And that's not even taking into account yet anything Netanyahu might do.
INSKEEP: Oh, I guess he's still the caretaker prime minister and a very influential figure. What could he do?
FRAYER: He could try to delay new lawmakers from getting sworn in to parliament tomorrow night or try to stop them from electing a new speaker. Netanyahu alleges - without evidence, we should say - that the Israeli election was stolen, using similar language as President Trump did in the 2020 U.S. election. Here's Mairav Zonszein. She is a senior Israel analyst at the International Crisis Group here in Tel Aviv.
MAIRAV ZONSZEIN: Netanyahu, meanwhile, is kind of having this January 6 moment trying to undermine the elections. There's been all kinds of stories that he's been pushing about fraud, which there's no real basis for.
FRAYER: The new parliament - when they take their seats, their first order of business may be to pass legislation calling for an inquiry into October 7 security, something Netanyahu has opposed. Lawmakers may also take up some of the judicial reforms that Netanyahu has opposed. And as caretaker, he could try to prevent them.
INSKEEP: Well, what's the timeline for Eisenkot?
FRAYER: So he's got about six weeks, but he vows to do it much quicker. In a speech last night, he described this moment as a national emergency - you know, wars in Iran and Gaza, cuts to U.S. aid to Israel and political instability here at home.
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GADI EISENKOT: (Speaking Hebrew).
FRAYER: And there he is. Without naming Netanyahu, he basically said anyone who tries to thwart the formation of a government for personal reasons will be, quote, "remembered in history as someone who failed to save Israel in its hour of emergency." Now, Steve, here's something else. If Eisenkot is unable to form a coalition in the next six weeks, the task could actually fall to Netanyahu. So there is a path for him to stay in power after all this. And if he can't form a coalition, Israel would then face more elections and a lot more political uncertainty.
INSKEEP: NPR's Lauren Frayer in Tel Aviv. Thanks.
FRAYER: You're welcome. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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