Netanyahu urges a national unity government amid post-election tensions

Netanyahu warned about the possibility of a government that, according to him, would be influenced by elements that sympathize with terrorism, implicitly referring to Gadi Eisenkot. He stated that a government dependent on this type of support would be unable to effectively combat Hamas and defend Israeli soldiers deployed in Gaza and Lebanon.

The leader of Likud proposed a unity government that would encompass all parties across the national spectrum and those who identify as Zionists and seek to protect the country. He promised that this government would eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat, protect Israel as a Jewish state, and foster national unity.

This proposal represents a change from Netanyahu’s stance last Monday, when he advocated for a “broad national government” without specifying a clear designation for the coalition.

Netanyahu reiterated his concern about a government backed by Arab parties, whom he qualifies as “sympathizers of terrorism,” arguing that such a government “would destroy the country.”

The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, announced that he will formally entrust the task of forming a government to Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, this Sunday.

In the October 28th elections, Netanyahu’s coalition obtained 53 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, while the four parties of the change bloc led by Eisenkot secured 48. The Arab parties, Raam and the Joint List, control 19 seats and could support a government headed by Eisenkot.

The Yashar party responded to Netanyahu accusing him of hypocrisy and invited Likud and its allies to join a coalition led by Eisenkot, excluding “extremists.” To do so, they demanded the dissolution of Likud’s alliance with extremists, the acceptance of Eisenkot’s four principles, and a willingness to be part of a government with him as Prime Minister.

Eisenkot’s four principles include recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization with the intention of destroying its military and governing power in the Gaza Strip, recognizing Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, supporting the values of the Declaration of Independence, and mandatory military service for the entire population.