Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party has cancelled a scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party to discuss coalition negotiations, after the Israeli prime minister delivered a speech at the swearing-in of the new Knesset that Eisenkot described as “delusional, divisive, hateful and disgraceful”.The cancellation came a day after Netanyahu called on opposition leaders to join a national unity government, arguing that Israel needed a united front in the face of the Iranian nuclear threat.In his address to parliament on Tuesday, he renewed that appeal but also criticised opposition leaders for considering a government supported by Arab-majority parties.Eisenkot, who has been tasked with forming Israel’s next government, said Netanyahu’s remarks had reinforced his belief that the outgoing prime minister was unfit to remain in office.“I sat and listened to the outgoing prime minister’s delusional, divisive, hateful and disgraceful speech, in which he abused a state occasion at the swearing-in of the 26th Knesset. I became even more convinced that he is unfit to remain in office for even one more minute,” Eisenkot wrote on X.“We must act urgently to establish a national emergency government. His continued rule is dividing Israel and endangering its security,” he added, calling on opposition leaders Yair Lapid, Yair Golan, Avigdor Liberman and Naftali Bennett to take responsibility.
Yashar cancels meeting with Likud
Yashar had earlier announced that its negotiating team was due to meet Likud representatives on Wednesday as part of efforts to form the next government.“Following Yashar’s appeal to all Knesset factions to conduct sincere and genuine negotiations based on the four principles set out by Yashar for forming a government, a negotiation meeting was scheduled for tomorrow between the Eisenkot team and Likud,” the party said in a statement, according to The Jerusalem Post.However, it said Eisenkot had instructed his team to cancel the meeting following Netanyahu’s speech and conduct during the Knesset swearing-in ceremony.The party accused Netanyahu of choosing political survival over national unity, saying his address was another indication that he did not want to bring Israelis together.“As always, when faced with a choice between the gravity of the moment and the resilience of Israeli society on one hand, and his political survival on the other, Netanyahu will always choose himself. At any cost,” the statement said.
Netanyahu attacks possible coalition with Arab parties
Netanyahu, meanwhile, has continued to push for a unity government, saying opposition parties should set aside their differences in view of the security challenges facing Israel.During his speech, he questioned whether Jewish opposition leaders were prepared to depend on Arab politicians to form a government.“I ask you: Are you prepared to be dependent on those whose goal is the destruction of the Jewish state?” he said, according to news agency AP.He also took to X to criticise the possibility of a government supported by Ra’am and the Joint List, calling the proposed arrangement “dangerous”.“Shame! It is forbidden to form a dangerous government with the terror supporters of Ra’am and the Joint List!” Netanyahu wrote.The Likud party also criticised Yashar’s decision to cancel the meeting. It said Netanyahu would “turn over every stone to achieve national unity” and remained willing to meet representatives of any faction seeking unity.Likud described the cancellation as “puzzling”, arguing that Eisenkot and other opposition parties were continuing negotiations with Arab parties even as they called off talks with Netanyahu’s party.The criticism followed the departure of Arab lawmakers during the national anthem at the Knesset swearing-in ceremony, as reported by The Jerusalem Post.
Eisenkot seeks to form government as new Knesset begins work
The dispute comes as Eisenkot works to assemble a coalition after receiving the mandate to form Israel’s next government from President Isaac Herzog. His bloc secured recommendations from representatives of 67 lawmakers, including support from Ra’am and the Joint List.The election left the 120-member Knesset without a clear majority. Netanyahu’s Likud-led faction secured 53 seats, while Eisenkot’s Yashar alliance won 48. A government needs the support of at least 61 lawmakers to command a majority.Eisenkot has up to six weeks to form a government that would end Netanyahu’s tenure as Israel’s longest-serving prime minister. If he fails, Herzog is expected to give Netanyahu another opportunity to form an administration.Meanwhile, Eisenkot’s bloc has begun advancing its legislative agenda in the new parliament. It has introduced bills seeking a government-led inquiry into Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks, term limits for the prime minister and the reversal of changes made by Netanyahu’s outgoing government to limit the judiciary’s powers.The opposition has also initiated the process to replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, who is backed by Netanyahu. It has nominated Matan Kahana, a senior member of Yashar, for the position.Netanyahu and his Cabinet remain in office during the transition, even as the newly sworn-in Knesset begins legislative work.As caretaker prime minister, Netanyahu retains authority over national security and the military, while facing court-imposed limits on some of his powers.
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