Israeli Lawmaker Rejects Unity Government, Citing 'Scorpion' Analogy

Member of Knesset Meirav Cohen of the Together party has ruled out the possibility of a unity government, stating, "We don't do business with scorpions." During consultations with President Yitzhak Herzog, the Together party recommended Gadi Eisenkot, head of the National Unity Party faction, to form the next government. Cohen clarified her party's stance against a law that would grant broad draft exemptions to the Haredi public, emphasizing, "We will not accept an evasion law, we will not accept that some will sacrifice their lives in battle and some will be exempt." However, she noted that the party is open to investing in the Haredi community and promoting solutions for its integration, suggesting economic measures rather than arrests are key to resolving the conscription issue. Cohen also expressed belief in cooperation across political divides but used the fable of the scorpion and the frog to illustrate her opposition to a unity government with parties holding vastly different worldviews. She recalled her negative experience in a unity government during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating it caused harm instead of good. Eitan Ginzburg, head of the Together faction, voiced support for Eisenkot forming a government quickly and pledged his party's commitment to assisting him.