Likud Campaigns Against Eisenkot's Government Formation Efforts

The Likud party is reportedly exerting significant pressure to obstruct Member of Knesset Gadi Eisenkot's efforts to form a government, according to political sources speaking to i24NEWS. Over the past 24 hours, Likud has launched an aggressive campaign to discredit Arab parties, labeling their representatives as "supporters of terrorism." This strategy aims to limit Eisenkot's maneuvering room and prevent the formation of a government reliant on their support. Concurrently, Likud is working to maintain its bloc with the Haredi parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism.

Sources indicate that aides to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a stern message to Haredi bloc representatives, warning that aligning with Eisenkot would result in a permanent "divorce" from the right-wing bloc. They were told that should Netanyahu depart, the right would form a coalition without the Haredi parties. Likud has clarified to its partners that the current boycott of the center-left bloc is directed at Netanyahu personally, and abandoning their current alignment would lead to the right joining a "Zionist government" without them.

Prime Minister Netanyahu himself is reportedly focusing his efforts on forming a unity government, recognizing that another election is unlikely to grant him the necessary 61 seats. Consequently, he has instructed Likud negotiation teams and Knesset members to de-escalate tensions and concentrate solely on advancing a unity government plan. In line with this directive, a previously canceled meeting between negotiation teams from Likud and the Yesh Atid party is expected to take place tomorrow.