Unity Talks Collapse After Netanyahu's Divisive Speech
Translated & summarized from Channel 9 by baba
Gadi Eisenkot canceled unity talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party after Netanyahu's divisive speech at the Knesset opening. Eisenkot's "Yashar!" party accused Netanyahu of prioritizing political survival over national unity. Netanyahu had called for a unity government but criticized potential reliance on Arab parties. Meanwhile, Likud discussed a potential power-sharing deal involving a rotating premiership and Netanyahu possibly becoming president.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Gadi Eisenkot canceled unity talks with Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party following a divisive Knesset speech.
- Eisenkot's "Yashar!" party accused Netanyahu of prioritizing political survival over national unity.
- Netanyahu called for a unity government but criticized reliance on Arab parties.
- Likud discussed a potential rotating premiership between Netanyahu and Eisenkot.
- A scenario includes Netanyahu potentially transitioning to the presidency.
- The proposed rotation requires significant mutual trust and guarantees.
Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the "Yashar!" party, has canceled a meeting between his party's negotiation team and the Likud party, originally scheduled for Wednesday, November 11. The decision came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech at the opening ceremony of the 26th Knesset. Eisenkot's party characterized Netanyahu's address as "divisive" and proof that he is not genuinely interested in forming a national unity government.
The meeting was proposed by "Yashar!" as part of an initiative to begin negotiations on forming a government based on four principles outlined by the party. However, following Netanyahu's speech, Eisenkot opted to cease contact with Likud representatives. "Yashar!" stated that unity is a crucial value for Israel and that societal solidarity is integral to national security, asserting that Netanyahu "attacked the citizens of Israel" and demonstrated his preference for "political survival" over the country's interests.
Eisenkot himself described Netanyahu's speech as "crazy, divisive, filled with hatred, and shameful," accusing the prime minister of using a state ceremony for political purposes. The "Yashar!" leader also called for the immediate formation of a "government of national salvation."
During his speech, Netanyahu had called for lawmakers to set aside differences and form a broad national unity government to address security challenges. However, he also sharply criticized the possibility of a coalition involving or supported by Arab parties, stating, "We cannot rely on a narrow government with the support of supporters of terror and haters of Israel." He accused the Ra'am and Joint List parties of denying Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state.
The Likud party criticized Eisenkot's decision, asserting that Netanyahu is committed to national unity and that the party remains open to negotiations with any faction interested in such a coalition. They also noted the perceived contradiction in canceling talks with Likud while "the camp of change" continues negotiations with Arab factions.
Amidst this political deadlock, discussions within Netanyahu's circle reportedly include a scenario for a broad government with a rotating premiership between Netanyahu and Eisenkot. Under this proposal, Netanyahu would serve the first two years, potentially transitioning to the presidency, with Eisenkot taking over as prime minister. This plan aims to provide Netanyahu a political exit and Eisenkot a guarantee of power transfer. However, such a scenario hinges on mutual trust and concrete guarantees, as well as Netanyahu's potential election as president by the Knesset, a process requiring a secret ballot for a seven-year term.
