Full coverage· Politics· Updated 7 Nov, 22:24

Netanyahu Calls for Unity Government, Eisenkot Rejects Alliance with Extremists

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a national unity government on Saturday evening, urging Zionist parties to unite with his political bloc, which includes Likud, ultra-Orthodox parties, and far-right parties. In a video message, Netanyahu warned against forming a coalition dependent on Arab parties, claiming such a government would destroy Israel from within and be unable to counter Hamas or the Iranian nuclear threat.

3 newsrooms · 3 languages · since 7 Nov, 20:39

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Netanyahu Calls for Unity Government, Eisenkot Rejects Alliance with Extremists — Illustration by baba

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What happened

01Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a national unity government on Saturday, ahead of the mandate to form a coalition being assigned.
02President Isaac Herzog is expected to task Gadi Eisenkot with forming the government on Sunday after he secured 67 Knesset recommendations.
03Benjamin Netanyahu received recommendations from 46 Knesset members for his bid to form the next government.
04Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party rejected Netanyahu's proposal, calling it a cheap PR stunt and demanding he abandon his far-right allies.
05Netanyahu warned against a coalition relying on Arab parties, claiming they would destroy Israel from within and fail to counter security threats.
06Yair Golan of the Democrats Party expressed willingness to partner with Haredi parties, setting conditions on conscription and equality.
07Avigdor Liberman ruled out a minority government and rejected relying on Arab parties for support.

The call came ahead of Sunday, when President Isaac Herzog is expected to task Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the centrist Yashar party, with forming the next government. Eisenkot secured recommendations from 67 Knesset members, while Netanyahu received 46. Eisenkot's party rejected Netanyahu's appeal, calling it a cheap PR stunt and a sign of political panic, and stated they would not join a government with Netanyahu unless he abandons his far-right allies and accepts Eisenkot's leadership and core principles.

Meanwhile, other party leaders outlined their positions on potential coalitions. Yair Golan of the Democrats Party expressed readiness to partner with Haredi parties under conditions such as conscription and labor market integration, while Avigdor Liberman ruled out a minority government or relying on Arab parties.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated 11:46

Latest report: Panet. Read Panet’s original