Netanyahu and Eisenkot Representatives Hold Preliminary Coalition Talks

Representatives for Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party met in Herzliya to discuss the potential formation of a new government. The meeting, held at the Dan Accadia hotel, was the first between the parties since the recent elections and Eisenkot's receipt of the mandate to form a cabinet. Yashar was represented by MK Hili Trouper and senior advisor Yoav Horowitz, while Likud sent faction head Ofir Katz and former Netanyahu attorney Michael Rabilo. Naftali Bennett's Be' Yahad party was also present, with political advisor Shalom Shlomo attending. The talks are preliminary, aiming to assess the possibility of more substantive negotiations, and neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot participated directly.

The meeting was initially scheduled for the previous week but was postponed by Eisenkot following a speech by Netanyahu in the Knesset that Eisenkot deemed divisive. A separate security meeting involving Netanyahu's military secretary, Maj. Gen. Guy Marqizano, took place on November 12.

Sources indicate Eisenkot intends to propose that Likud join his government without a rotation agreement for the prime minister's post. Yashar is reportedly open to including other current coalition parties, with the exception of Itamar Ben-Gvir's far-right Otzma Yehudit party. Consequently, the negotiations focus solely on Likud potentially joining Eisenkot's cabinet, not on a parity government or rotation discussions between the two leaders.

Likud is expected to reject Eisenkot's proposal outright, as the party insists on Netanyahu retaining the premiership and the inclusion of all its bloc allies, including Otzma Yehudit. The initial meeting is anticipated to be formal, with Likud unwilling to accept Eisenkot's terms, while Eisenkot is currently focused on forming a coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties. A breakthrough is only expected through direct, private discussions between Eisenkot and Netanyahu. Previously, Netanyahu has sought to ensure Likud's participation in coalition talks and prevent the formation of a government led by Eisenkot without his party's involvement.