Israeli President Begins Coalition Consultations; Ra'am to Back Eisenkot
Translated & summarized from Davar by baba
President Isaac Herzog began coalition consultations Wednesday, with Shas and Religious Zionism backing Benjamin Netanyahu. Yisrael Beiteinu and Ra'am recommended Gadi Eisenkot, while United Torah Judaism will not endorse any candidate. Discussions included the draft exemption law and the role of Arab parties in government. A security scare at the President's Residence was resolved without incident.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- President Isaac Herzog began coalition consultations Wednesday, with Shas and Religious Zionism backing Benjamin Netanyahu.
- Yisrael Beiteinu and Ra'am announced they will recommend Gadi Eisenkot to form the government.
- United Torah Judaism decided not to recommend any candidate for prime minister.
- MK Oded Forer stated Yisrael Beiteinu voters did not expect them to sit with Arab parties.
- Minister Orit Struk argued against Arab parties' legitimacy in shaping Israel's future.
- A security alert at the President's Residence was resolved, and access was restored.
President Isaac Herzog's coalition consultations commenced on Wednesday afternoon. The Shas and Religious Zionism parties recommended incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form the next government. Representatives from Yisrael Beiteinu recommended Gadi Eisenkot. Later in the evening, Ra'am announced it would also recommend Eisenkot. The ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party decided not to recommend any candidate.
During the consultations, MK Yinon Azulai of Shas was asked by President Herzog about potential compromises on the military draft exemption law for Torah scholars. Azulai responded by emphasizing the value of Torah students. Minister Orit Struk of the Religious Zionism party stated that the election results necessitate a broad national government led by Netanyahu and argued against the legitimacy of Arab nationalist parties in shaping Israel's future, citing their foundational beliefs. President Herzog challenged Struk's distinction between racism and her statements, reminding her of the historical inclusion of Arab citizens and parties like Hadash within Israel's framework.
MK Oded Forer of Yisrael Beiteinu, part of the delegation that recommended Eisenkot, stated, "Not one of our 337,000 voters thought we would sit with the Arab parties." Earlier in the day, police and bomb disposal experts were called to the President's Residence due to a security alert involving a woman at a checkpoint, which was later resolved, and access was restored.
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