Netanyahu Eyes Unity Government With Eisenkot, Backed by Trump

Senior figures in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's camp and associates of former U.S. President Donald Trump are reportedly working behind the scenes to establish a unity government with Gadi Eisenkot, even if Netanyahu loses the upcoming election. In closed-door discussions, Netanyahu has reportedly pledged to Washington and European officials that partnering with Eisenkot would allow him to distance himself from his far-right allies, particularly Itamar Ben-Gvir, in favor of a more moderate coalition. Netanyahu also claimed in these talks that he is the ideal partner to resume U.S. efforts against Iran, according to The Washington Post.

The push for Netanyahu to remain in power is reportedly coming directly from the White House. In an unprecedented intervention in Israeli politics, Trump publicly called for votes for Netanyahu on October 18, labeling him a "great fighting prime minister" and pressuring President Yitzhak Herzog to pardon him. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee confirmed in an interview that Trump made the decision to support Netanyahu independently, and that Netanyahu was unaware of it until Trump's tweet. There is reportedly division within the U.S. administration regarding this move; while some officials agree that Netanyahu would moderate without Ben-Gvir, others harbor deep distrust due to his past political dealings.

For Eisenkot and his supporters, who have focused their campaign on the failures of October 7, 2023, and Netanyahu's alliance with ultra-Orthodox parties opposed to conscription, joining a rotation government is a bitter pill. However, with polls predicting a deadlock where no bloc reaches the 61-seat majority, the tone appears to be shifting. Just last week, Eisenkot stated on 103FM, "Under no circumstances will I sit under Netanyahu, not even in a rotation. If that happens, I will resign within an hour." This week, when asked about Trump's pressure for unity, he was much more cautious, diplomatically stating, "Only the Israeli public will determine the election results."

Eisenkot's dilemma is also compounded by the limited options within his own bloc. Although polls suggest he could form a government with the support of Arab parties, his partner Avigdor Lieberman has vetoed this possibility. Meanwhile, Ben-Gvir is already assessing the situation, launching an attack last week accusing Netanyahu of intending to sideline him and transfer authority to the left. Ben-Gvir declared, "Netanyahu must stand by my side in a full right-wing government; only then will we save the country."

A senior Likud official suggested that American support stems from Trump's belief that "Eisenkot lacks the backbone and determination that Netanyahu has," and that Trump desires a stable government established quickly. However, political circles estimate that if Eisenkot maintains his refusal, Netanyahu plans to exploit the political paralysis, continue serving as caretaker prime minister, and lead Israel to another election.