Eisenkot Seeks to Form New Government, Repeal Judicial Overhaul Laws

Gadi Eisenkot, leading the "Change Bloc," is actively pursuing negotiations with Haredi parties to establish an alternative government to Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu's administration. Concurrently, the bloc is preparing legislative steps to annul key laws enacted as part of the judicial overhaul, specifically those curtailing the powers of the Attorney General and altering the Judicial Appointments Committee composition.

Recent unofficial contacts between representatives of the Change Bloc and Haredi parties aim to explore the feasibility of forming a government that includes them, seen as a crucial first step toward replacing the current government. However, these negotiations face significant obstacles, including political and fundamental disagreements, and a lack of trust between the parties. The Change Bloc fears that the Haredi parties might withdraw support at the last minute, potentially leading to new elections and political setbacks for the bloc. The Haredi parties, in turn, are concerned about joining a government that might prove unstable or difficult to unseat later due to a lack of a clear 61-seat parliamentary majority.

Eisenkot also plans to invite the Likud and Religious Zionism parties to discussions for a broader government, though prospects for this are considered limited. He has previously called on all Knesset factions and members aligned with his four core principles to engage in negotiations for an emergency government under his leadership, emphasizing his commitment.

Legislatively, the Change Bloc intends to initiate the repeal of several judicial overhaul laws, respecting transitional period constraints. Priority is given to annulling the law reducing the Attorney General's powers and the law changing the Judicial Appointments Committee's structure before Eisenkot's term concludes. Eisenkot stated the bloc is acting on the majority's will, asserting that the Knesset should represent all citizens and not be used to harm societal groups or disrespect bereaved families.

In a separate development, a two-hour security meeting between Eisenkot and Netanyahu on Thursday yielded no political rapprochement. A source from the "Yashar" party indicated the meeting focused on security matters but did not alter Eisenkot's stance on replacing Netanyahu's government. Eisenkot, post-meeting, declined to detail the discussions but stressed the need for close oversight of the government's performance during the transition, vowing to ensure it occurs.