Eisenkot Vows Stable Government Under His Leadership, Rejects Alternatives

Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar! party, has declared his intention to form a stable government under his leadership, stating there is no alternative. He made this announcement amidst a social media campaign targeting four of his party's Knesset members, including Eliasaaf Peretz, which is reportedly linked to the Likud party and aims to undermine support for Eisenkot. Eisenkot published an address to the Israeli public on Friday, November 13, promising to explore all avenues and engage with any elected official who agrees with his four core principles. He is also examining all coalition possibilities, viewing any refusal to form a government as a "bitter mistake." The politician warned that attempts to disrupt government formation would involve "spin and lies," urging the public to be cautious and rely on his direct updates. Eisenkot specifically addressed Israel's Arab citizens, calling them an integral part of the nation's history and deeming attempts to marginalize or slander them as anti-state actions that disgrace the Declaration of Independence. He asserted that while disagreement with Arab parties is acceptable, slander against an entire sector will not be tolerated. He also pledged to restore the Knesset as "the home of all the people" and ensure that the families of fallen soldiers are no longer insulted. Peretz responded to the support on social media with a photo of himself and Eisenkot and a brief message of thanks. The Yashar! party, founded by former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot in September 2025, secured 21 mandates in the 26th Knesset elections. His potential coalition is supported by a bloc of 48 mandates from Jewish parties and 19 from Arab parties, though some Jewish parties have stated they will not join a government reliant on Arab factions. Eisenkot's four principles for his coalition include commitment to Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, adherence to the Declaration of Independence, mandatory national service for all, and recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization with the aim of its destruction. Previously, Defense Minister Israel Katz sharply responded to Eisenkot's warning about military operations during a transitional government period, which Katz rejected. Eisenkot was expected to receive the mandate to form a government from President Yitzhak Herzog on November 8, with 28 days to complete the task, but negotiations were anticipated to be difficult due to divisions within the "Bloc of Change."