Eisenkot Opens Door to Netanyahu in New Israeli Coalition
The opposition leader has six weeks to secure a majority, with the arithmetic leaving no clear path to 61 seats.
By Samir Doyle ·
Gadi Eisenkot has signaled he is prepared to include Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the next Israeli government. Eisenkot, who was formally tasked by President Isaac Herzog with forming a new cabinet, made the remark on Sunday in Jerusalem. He suggested that far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich could also hold a position in his proposed lineup.
Speaking at a ceremony in Herzog's office, Eisenkot addressed the members of the ruling Likud and Religious Zionist parties. He told them that if they believe this is a moment for unity, there is no reason they should not support his leadership. 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 former military chief of staff now has six weeks to assemble a governing coalition. He pledged to act in the public interest and to represent every segment of Israeli society. Herzog used the occasion to warn that Israel faces an uncertain period following the November 3 midterm elections in the United States. The U.S. vote elevated political figures critical of Israel and its American military support. Herzog said, "The State of Israel needs a stable government," pointing to what he called a new political reality in Washington.
The seat count from the October 27 election creates a difficult mathematical challenge. Eisenkot's four-party alliance won 48 seats. Netanyahu's right-wing and religious bloc took 53 seats. Both sides fall short of the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority. Arab-led parties, representing Palestinian citizens of Israel, captured a record 19 seats.
Eisenkot has ruled out governing with the Arab-led parties, a combination that would give him a 67-seat bloc. To reach exactly 61 seats, he must secure the two ultra-Orthodox parties, United Torah Judaism and Shas. Alternatively, he could attempt to govern with fewer than 61 seats by winning a parliamentary confidence vote.
Netanyahu remains caretaker prime minister and still has time to obstruct the process. Al Jazeera's Nour Odeh reported from Ramallah that Netanyahu can derail Eisenkot's efforts or sabotage attempts to gain a vote of confidence. If Eisenkot fails, Netanyahu will be next in line to receive the mandate. A failure by Netanyahu would trigger new elections while he stays on as caretaker. Odeh noted that many of Netanyahu's critics say that is his aim.
The central question in Israeli politics now is whether the opposition truly wants to remove Netanyahu. Or is the opposition to Palestinian Israelis in mainstream politics so strong that they are willing to risk keeping Netanyahu in power by returning to the ballot box?
