Video: Ties with Israel remain strong, says India as Eisenkot gets Gadi mandate

India on Tuesday said its relations with Israel remained strong and that it would engage with the countrys new government to take bilateral ties forward following a major political setback for Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuResponding to a question on Indias engagement with Israel after the elections Ministry of External Affairs MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi shared strong and multifaceted ties with the country reported the ANIOur relations with Israel are good We have good ties with the people theremdashmultifaceted relations as well as strategic ones A new government is being formed there we will engage in discussions with them and take this relationship forward Jaiswal saidThe development comes after Israeli President Isaac Herzog tasked opposition leader and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot with forming the next government giving him the first opportunity to replace Netanyahu following the October 27 general electionWATCH Delhi On relations with Israel after elections MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says Our relations with Israel are good We have good ties with the people theremdashmultifaceted relations as well as strategic ones A new government is being formed there we will engage in discussions with them and take this relationship forwardmdash ANI ANI November 10 2026Herzog gives Eisenkot mandate to form governmentAccording to the IANS Herzog announced his decision on Saturday November 7 after consultations with political leaders including Netanyahu and EisenkotEisenkot leader of the Yashar party secured the backing of 67 lawmakers during consultations with parliamentary factions compared with 46 who recommended Netanyahu Seven lawmakers declined to endorse either candidateThe formal handover of the mandate was scheduled for Sunday November 8 at 5 pm local time at the Presidents Residence in JerusalemEisenkot has 28 days to form a coalition with a possible 14day extension if required The development marks a significant challenge to Netanyahu Israels longestserving prime ministerHow the numbers stack up in Israels parliamentThe recommendations reflect the changing political balance in Israels 120member Knesset where a minimum of 61 seats is required for a parliamentary majority as per the IANSEisenkot received support from 48 lawmakers belonging to the Change Bloc seven from the Arab party Raam and 12 from the Joint ListNetanyahu received 46 recommendations from his rightwing and religious allies while seven members of United Torah Judaism UTJ chose not to recommend either candidateHowever the 67 recommendations do not automatically guarantee Eisenkot a majority in parliament Differences among the supporting parties could make coalition negotiations difficultThe Arabled factions have indicated that they could support an alternative to Netanyahu from outside the government rather than necessarily joining the coalition Their involvement remains politically sensitive with some parties in Eisenkots camp reluctant to depend on their support the news agency reportedBiweekly Media Briefing by the Official Spokesperson November 10 2026 httpstcolnPJP9NVNCmdash Randhir Jaiswal MEAIndia November 10 2026Who is Gadi EisenkotEisenkot is a former chief of staff of the Israel Defence Forces IDF who entered politics in 2022 His Yashar party secured 21 seats in the October 27 election while the wider Change Bloc won 48 seatsHe emerged as Netanyahus principal challenger by bringing together political groups ranging from the centreleft to the right largely united by their opposition to the incumbent prime ministerEisenkot briefly served in Netanyahus wartime cabinet following Hamass October 7 2023 attack before returning to the opposition He has since criticised the governments handling of the Gaza war and ruled out joining an administration led by Netanyahuwith ANI and IANS inputs