Netanyahu Pushes Unity, Eisenkot Rejects Overtures

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly pushing for a unity government, with a source close to him telling Kan 11 that a quiet overture was made to Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the 'Yesh Atid' party, to explore forming a coalition. However, the initiative was reportedly immediately rejected by Eisenkot's party, which denies receiving any such request. Netanyahu's circle, however, indicated that while no formal offer was made, the Prime Minister would be open to discussing a rotation mechanism if negotiations materialize.

Concurrently, Netanyahu launched a public campaign urging a unity government of "all Zionist parties and the national camp." In a dramatic statement, he sharply criticized the "hasty" formation of a government with the support of "Islamists," warning they would dismantle the country from within, comparing it to events in Europe. Netanyahu presented a stark choice: a national unity government or "national suicide."

In an effort to prevent defections to the opposition, Netanyahu issued a clear warning to his Haredi partners before Shabbat, stating that joining his rivals would be irreversible. This warning follows Avigdor Lieberman's statement that he does not rule out forming a government with Haredi support.

Eisenkot responded forcefully to Netanyahu's call, accusing the Prime Minister of cynically using the term "unity" for political survival as his rule nears its end. Eisenkot criticized Netanyahu as a consistently divisive figure who has undermined unity governments, broken political agreements, and appointed Itamar Ben-Gvir as a senior minister in the "October 7th government" despite earlier promises.

Attention is now focused on Sunday, when the President is expected to task Eisenkot with forming a government. Eisenkot has already presented his "National Emergency Government" plan, based on four core principles: comprehensive service (military, civilian, or national), recognition of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence, and a commitment to dismantling Hamas's power.