Benjamin Netanyahu Renews Unity Government Call as Rival Gadi Eisenkot Dismisses Proposal

Caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu renewed his call for a national unity government on Saturday, but his political rival Gadi Eisenkot rejected the proposal as a tactical ploy to disrupt ongoing coalition negotiations.

The exchange follows the October 27 election, in which Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc secured 53 seats, Eisenkot’s bloc won 48, and Arab-led parties achieved a record 19 seats in the 120-member Knesset.

President Isaac Herzog tasked Eisenkot with forming a government last week after 67 lawmakers endorsed his candidacy, while 46 lawmakers supported Netanyahu.

Netanyahu argued that a unity government is essential to address regional security challenges, specifically claiming that such an administration could eliminate the threat posed by Iran.

“Instead of trying to form a weak and dangerous government... let’s meet in one room, without preconditions, put aside all our disagreements and all the boycotts, and reach agreements,” said Benjamin Netanyahu.

Eisenkot, a former army chief, dismissed the appeal within minutes of the prime minister’s video statement.

“Netanyahu is calling for negotiations while they are already underway; he claims to want unity but... sows division and stokes tensions as if there were no tomorrow,” said Gadi Eisenkot.

“These tricks don’t work on me,” Eisenkot added.

Eisenkot has 28 days to form a government, with the possibility of a 14-day extension, though he has ruled out including Arab-led parties in his coalition.

He is currently pursuing a minority “national emergency government” that would rely on abstentions from Arab and ultra-Orthodox lawmakers to secure a majority in the Knesset.

Netanyahu warned that such a minority government would lead to the collapse of the state, according to Al Jazeera.

Eisenkot stated he would consider working with members of Netanyahu’s Likud party or Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism if they commit to a “break with the extremists” within the current right-wing coalition.

The political divide has extended to the selection of a new Knesset speaker, with a vote scheduled for Tuesday.

The opposition has nominated Matan Kahana to replace the incumbent speaker, Amir Ohana, a close ally of the prime minister.

It remains unclear whether Eisenkot can successfully navigate the legislative hurdles to form a government or if the country will face further political instability.