Eisenkot Explores Minority Government Options Amidst Political Maneuvering

Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yachad party, is reportedly considering the formation of a minority government. This potential government would rely on the abstention of the United Arab List and the Haredi party United Torah Judaism, with direct support from Knesset Member Yoav Segalovich. According to a report by "Walla!" on Sunday, this configuration could yield 49 votes for Eisenkot's bloc against 46 for Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc. Eisenkot has instructed an examination of this scenario, which does not involve negotiations with the Joint List, but rather assumes their non-opposition to the government's formation, especially after the Joint List's head, Ahmed Tibi, declared their aim to oust Netanyahu's government.

The calculations suggest Eisenkot's bloc would have 48 seats, versus Netanyahu's 53, which includes United Torah Judaism. The Arab parties collectively hold 19 seats. If United Torah Judaism and the United Arab List abstain, with only Segalovich supporting, the vote count would be 49 in favor and 46 against Netanyahu's bloc, potentially allowing the minority government to pass, provided the Joint List does not oppose it.

However, this plan faces significant political hurdles. Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, opposes any government that directly or indirectly depends on Arab or Haredi parties. One explored option involves reaching an understanding with United Torah Judaism for parliamentary safety net support from outside the coalition until a law exempting Haredim from military service is passed, with the party potentially joining the government later. This path is complicated by disagreements over the conscription law, as Haredim insist on their demands, which conflict with Eisenkot's election pledges to enforce military service.

Meanwhile, Mansour Abbas, head of the United Arab List, seeks his party's inclusion in the coalition, even if government representation is limited to Segalovich. This would require additional political understandings beyond mere abstention from the party's other Knesset members. The scenario also faces uncertainty regarding the Joint List's stance; their assumed non-opposition does not guarantee abstention without prior agreements, particularly given their demands on civil issues for the Arab community, such as combating crime, illegal weapons, halting home demolitions, and addressing infrastructure crises.

The report suggests this proposal could also serve as leverage in potential negotiations with Netanyahu for a unity government, despite broad opposition within Eisenkot's camp and no indication of an impending agreement. The Yachad party responded to the report, stating they are "committed to fulfilling the voters' will and replacing the government of failure." They added, "At this stage, we will not address what is happening behind closed doors. The various reports are not issued with our approval and do not necessarily reflect the reality."

Concurrently, opposition parties have not yet agreed on a candidate for Knesset Speaker, succeeding Amir Ohana from the Likud party, before the new Knesset members are sworn in. Eisenkot advocates for the position to go to a member of his bloc, while Lieberman insists on nominating his party member Oded Forer, highlighting ongoing disputes within the bloc over the distribution of positions and parliamentary arrangements. Israeli President Isaac Herzog is scheduled to begin consultations with party representatives on Wednesday to receive their recommendations for the individual to be tasked with forming the government, with consultations expected to continue through Thursday and possibly Friday. According to estimates in the report, Eisenkot might receive recommendations from 67 Knesset members to be tasked with forming the government.