Israeli Parties Recommend Candidates for Government Formation
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
President Yitzhak Herzog is holding consultations for government formation, with Gadi Eisenkot expected to receive the mandate. The Joint List and Bayit Yehudi parties recommended Eisenkot, boosting his support to 67 potential backers, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu anticipates 46. The Joint List cited a strategic need to oust Netanyahu's government, despite reservations about Eisenkot. Bayit Yehudi also backed Eisenkot, emphasizing a need for change and criticizing the current government's policies.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- President Herzog is consulting parties on government formation, with Gadi Eisenkot the leading candidate.
- The Joint List and Bayit Yehudi parties recommended Eisenkot, giving him 67 potential supporters.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu expects 46 recommendations after his Likud party endorses him.
- The Joint List's recommendation for Eisenkot is strategic, aiming to replace Netanyahu's government.
- Bayit Yehudi emphasized a need for a change government and criticized current policies.
- United Torah Judaism decided not to recommend any candidate.
President Yitzhak Herzog is continuing consultations with parties elected to the 26th Knesset to determine who will receive the mandate to form a government. The consultations are expected to conclude this evening, with Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the National Unity Party, considered the most likely candidate. The Joint List announced it would recommend Eisenkot, bringing his total recommendations to 67, while Benjamin Netanyahu, the incumbent Prime Minister, is expected to receive 46 recommendations after his Likud party endorses him.
Earlier recommendations included the Religious Zionism party, Shas, Otzma Yehudit, and Likud for Netanyahu, and Yisrael Beiteinu, Ra'am, the Democratic Party, and the Joint List for Eisenkot. The United Torah Judaism party decided not to recommend anyone. The consultations began yesterday, with smaller parties meeting the President first.
During the meeting with the Joint List, MK Ahmad Tibi stated their recommendation for Eisenkot was "not out of love for Mordechai," indicating reservations but a strategic decision to oust Netanyahu's government. Professor Yosef Jabareen of the Joint List argued that Netanyahu had been defeated in the elections and that their support for Eisenkot was aimed at achieving civil and social equality and peace, and to remove the "racist government" of Netanyahu, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Bezalel Smotrich.
Representatives from the Bayit Yehudi party, including MK Merav Cohen, also recommended Eisenkot, citing a public desire to replace the government following the events of October 7th. Cohen emphasized the need for a change government, criticizing the current administration for its handling of security, promoting draft evasion laws, and its role in the ongoing conflict. MK Ram Ben Barak expressed concern about Israel's existential danger due to its international standing and the government's actions in the West Bank.
When questioned about potential coalition partners, Bayit Yehudi representatives, including Liran Avishar Ben Horin, stated they would not compromise on core values and drew an analogy of not doing business with "scorpions" when discussing potential unity governments with those holding vastly different ideologies. The Joint List also faced questions from President Herzog about their stance during potential military actions in Iran or Gaza, with Jabareen stating they would make strategic decisions to advance their values and seek peace.
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