Netanyahu Open to Unity Government as Eisenkot Begins Coalition Talks
Benjamin Netanyahu said he is willing to consider a unity coalition of Zionist and Haredi parties, while former military chief Gadi Eisenkot has started forming a government after receiving presidential mandate.
Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his openness to a "unity government" that would bring together Zionist and Haredi parties under his leadership, describing the coalition as a "vital need" in a video statement released by his office. He added, "I don’t rule anyone out, and no one else should be ruling others out," and emphasized the need to "join forces in the face of the challenges in front of us."
Netanyahu said Likud, as the largest party, should lead the effort to assemble a coalition that includes all parties in the national camp, and he is ready to begin discussions without delay with any party willing to consider the proposal.
Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot began the task of forming a government on Monday after being directed by President Isaac Herzog. Eisenkot secured the support of 67 lawmakers, compared with 46 for Netanyahu's Likud bloc, and has 28 days to assemble a governing coalition, with a possible 14-day extension from the president.
Eisenkot stated, "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."
The October 27 election produced a hung parliament. Likud emerged as the largest party with 27 seats, while Yashar secured 21 seats. A governing majority requires 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset. Eisenkot's coalition, comprising his Yashar party, the centre-left Democrats, Naftali Bennett’s Together party and Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu, totals 48 seats. Netanyahu's bloc holds 53 seats. Arab-led parties Ra'am and the Joint List together hold 19 seats, making them potential kingmakers.