JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister-designate and Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot has rejected caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s public appeal to form a national unity government, describing the proposal as a political “spin” and a “trick”.
The exchange began on Saturday when Netanyahu released a video statement urging Eisenkot to enter coalition talks “without preconditions” and set aside political boycotts in the interest of national security, The Times of Israel reported.
Netanyahu did not explicitly demand to lead the proposed unity government, unlike in his earlier appeals. He warned against Eisenkot forming a narrow minority coalition backed by Arab-led parties, arguing that a broad government of Jewish-majority parties was needed to confront Iran and resolve disputes over military conscription involving ultra-Orthodox representatives.
Eisenkot dismissed the appeal minutes later, pointing out that negotiating teams from Yashar and Netanyahu’s Likud party had already scheduled a meeting for Sunday, before the video was released.
The former military chief accused Netanyahu of creating divisions while attempting to delay the formation of a new administration.
Eisenkot said Netanyahu was already aware of the conditions for Likud to join an emergency government under his leadership. He insisted that the party accept four guiding principles, including universal national service, a state inquiry into the October 7, 2023 attacks and a break with “extremists”, an apparent reference to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party.
Sources close to Eisenkot told Channel 13 that Yashar was willing to compromise on some issues but would not give up the premiership.
In the October 27 elections, Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 seats while Eisenkot’s bloc secured 48. Arab-led parties won 19 seats in the 120-member Knesset, leaving the results inconclusive.
President Isaac Herzog tasked Eisenkot with forming a government last Sunday.
Eisenkot said Likud’s commitment to working with his party would face an immediate test on Tuesday, when the Knesset votes on electing Yashar lawmaker Matan Kahana as speaker.
(With inputs from media reports)