In a surprising turn, Israel’s opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, who has been tasked by President Isaac Herzog to form the next government, announced that he would consider including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his coalition. The statement came during a ceremony in Herzog’s office in Jerusalem, where Eisenkot outlined a vision of unity that could bring Netanyahu and his allies into a new governing body.
“If members of Likud and the Religious Zionist Party truly believe this is a time for unity, as they told the president, I cannot conceive of any reason why they would not support a government under my leadership and the principles I have presented,” Eisenkot said. He also extended an invitation to Netanyahu’s far‑right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, indicating a willingness to broaden the coalition beyond his own four‑party alliance.
Despite having run as Netanyahu’s main rival, Eisenkot has six weeks to assemble a majority. His four‑party bloc secured 48 seats in the October 27 elections, while Netanyahu’s right‑wing coalition won 53 seats. Both groups fell short of the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority. Arab‑led parties, which won a record 19 seats, have endorsed Eisenkot for the mandate to replace Netanyahu, but he has ruled out forming a government with them, which would give him a 67‑seat bloc.
To reach the 61‑seat threshold, Eisenkot would need the support of the two ultra‑Orthodox parties, United Torah Judaism and Shas. Alternatively, he could seek a confidence vote with fewer than 61 seats. The political landscape remains uncertain, with Netanyahu still in power as caretaker prime minister and critics warning that he could derail Eisenkot’s efforts.
President Herzog highlighted the need for stability amid a “new political reality” in the United States, following the November 3 midterm elections that saw victories for figures critical of Israel and U.S. military support. Herzog emphasized that Israel must maintain a stable government to navigate these external uncertainties.
Source: Al Jazeera
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