Netanyahu and Eisenkot Deadlocked Over Prime Minister Role in Unity Government Talks

Negotiations between the Likud and Yashar! parties to form a national unity government are ongoing, with the primary sticking point being who will serve as Prime Minister. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aims to keep Likud involved in coalition talks and prevent a government led by Gadi Eisenkot without his party's participation, according to Anna Barski for Maariv. Eisenkot, who received the mandate to form a government from the president, is also negotiating with ultra-Orthodox parties to strengthen the "change bloc" in the Knesset. However, the core issue of leadership remains unresolved.

Representatives for Eisenkot's party include MK Hili Tropper and senior advisor Yoav Horowitz, while Likud is represented by faction chairman Ofir Katz and lawyer Michael Raabilo. The parties intend to clarify their positions and explore potential negotiation avenues, though no agreements on portfolios or government structure have been reached. Likud MK Elisha Madan, who lost both legs in Gaza combat, has been publicly advocating for a unity government by setting up a tent protest outside the Knesset, but he is not part of the current negotiation team.

A previous meeting was canceled after Netanyahu's speech at the new Knesset swearing-in ceremony, which Yashar! described as divisive. Despite a subsequent two-hour meeting between Netanyahu and Eisenkot on foreign policy and security amid tensions with Iran, no political breakthrough occurred. Netanyahu, however, used the meeting to reiterate his call for a unity government, emphasizing the Iranian threat in a video address urging Eisenkot to negotiate without preconditions. While Netanyahu did not explicitly demand to be Prime Minister first or insist on a rotation, Likud representatives have indicated he intends to claim the first term in any rotation, a condition Eisenkot rejects.

Alternative scenarios are being discussed, including Netanyahu potentially seeking the presidency in the future. Eisenkot dismissed Netanyahu's calls as a "media stunt," reaffirming that Yashar!'s offer for Likud to join a government led by him, without Netanyahu as Prime Minister, remains open. Eisenkot also stated he would not negotiate with Itamar Ben-Gvir's "Otzma Yehudit" party, while Netanyahu seeks to include his current partners like "Religious Zionism."

Another possibility involves Likud joining Eisenkot's government without a rotation agreement, with Netanyahu potentially taking a role in international affairs, though this has not become a formal proposal. Negotiations with Likud could also serve as leverage for Eisenkot against ultra-Orthodox parties, whom he is prioritizing for government formation. A key challenge with the ultra-Orthodox parties is military conscription, with discussions considering a temporary one-year freeze on mandatory service and arrests of draft dodgers, though legal and practical hurdles exist.

Mutual distrust and fear of unmet commitments complicate talks. The gap between the concessions offered by the change bloc and the demands of the ultra-Orthodox parties remains significant. While MK Yitzhak Pinderus of "Yahadut HaTorah" suggested Shas might join if conscription issues are resolved, Shas denied ongoing negotiations, citing directives from the Council of Torah Sages. Netanyahu hopes a unity government channel with Eisenkot will signal to ultra-Orthodox parties that a government can be formed without them. Eisenkot, however, wants to keep the option of a Likud agreement open, despite weak prospects for a unity government.

Avigdor Lieberman of "Yisrael Beiteinu" strongly opposes negotiating with Netanyahu, likening a deal to an agreement with a "Tinder scammer." Lieberman's stance limits Eisenkot's maneuvering room, especially as he also opposes a government relying on Arab parties, making negotiations with the ultra-Orthodox crucial. Discussions about cooperating with Likud could create internal tension within Eisenkot's bloc, as partners who reject Netanyahu might question his intentions.

Eisenkot has 28 days, extendable by 14, to form a government. Yashar! won 21 seats and Likud 27 in the elections. However, the president tasked Eisenkot after factions representing 67 MKs recommended him, while 46 supported Netanyahu. The majority supporting Eisenkot does not guarantee a stable coalition. The Knesset is also set to vote on replacing the Likud Speaker of Parliament, with Yashar! Eisenkot views this vote as a test of Likud and "Religious Zionism's" commitment to national unity. Netanyahu is reportedly trying to persuade "Yahadut HaTorah" to vote against the replacement. The vote's outcome will impact the balance of power and coalition negotiations. Replacing the speaker would strengthen the change bloc's influence on the parliamentary agenda before government formation.

Additionally, an agreement between Eisenkot and Yair Golan's "Democrats" party includes establishing a special committee on law and constitution, to be headed by a "Democrats" representative. This committee would aim to reverse judicial reforms enacted by the Netanyahu government, including revising the judicial appointments committee and strengthening the status of the government's legal advisor. The change bloc intends to advance these legislative proposals quickly.