Eisenkot Tapped to Form Government Amidst Political Tensions

President Isaac Herzog is expected to task Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the "Yashar" party, with forming a new government on Sunday. This move comes amid reports of a potential coalition between the "change bloc" and United Torah Judaism, aiming to establish a government without relying on Arab parties. However, significant tensions have emerged within the "change bloc" just hours before the official mandate is handed over, particularly between Eisenkot and Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu.

Lieberman reportedly criticized Eisenkot's approach, suggesting Eisenkot "could bring a government with Arab parties to a vote" and would be "embarrassed." Sources close to Eisenkot, in turn, accused Lieberman of "personal whims" undermining the formation of a stable coalition. To signal his seriousness and address criticism, Eisenkot released a statement before Shabbat outlining his four non-negotiable conditions for joining any future government. A key, potentially contentious condition is the legislation of "compulsory service for all," which could complicate negotiations with potential Haredi partners.

Meanwhile, Aryeh Deri, chairman of Shas, has reportedly conveyed a message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stating he will not dismantle the "right-wing bloc." Following Shabbat, Netanyahu released a recorded statement warning that a government formed under these circumstances "will bring about the erasure of the State of Israel." He called for a national unity government comprising "all parties of the national camp and all Zionist parties that want to protect our country, that will permanently remove the nuclear threat from Iran and preserve a Jewish Israel."

The political system is on edge as the formal granting of the mandate will officially start a complex political countdown.