not everywhere· Politics· Updated 10 Nov, 22:13

Eisenkot Cancels Likud Talks After Netanyahu's Knesset Speech

Gadi Eisenkot canceled a planned negotiation meeting with Likud after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech at the Knesset swearing-in ceremony. The meeting had been set for Wednesday, and Eisenkot said Netanyahu’s remarks were divisive.

7 newsrooms · 4 languages · since 10 Nov, 19:45

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Eisenkot Cancels Likud Talks After Netanyahu's Knesset Speech — Illustration by baba

What happened

01Gadi Eisenkot canceled a negotiation meeting with Likud that had been scheduled for Wednesday after Benjamin Netanyahu’s Knesset speech.
02Eisenkot said Netanyahu’s remarks were divisive and gave him no reason to continue talks with Likud.
03The cancellation followed Netanyahu’s address at the Knesset swearing-in ceremony, before the traditional photo of party leaders.
04In one party statement, the speech was described as an attack on the ceremony and on what remained of statehood.
05Eisenkot said unity is important for Israel and that Israeli solidarity is part of national security.
06One report identified Eisenkot as chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, while another described him as a minister of labor and social affairs.
07The party said it had approached all Knesset factions for negotiations based on four principles for forming a government.

The cancellation followed Netanyahu’s address before the traditional photo of party leaders. In reports that quoted Eisenkot’s party statement, the speech was described as an attack on the ceremony and on what remained of statehood, and Eisenkot said Netanyahu does not want unity.

The reports differ on Eisenkot’s title and party identification, with Yisrael Beiteinu, Yachad, and a labor portfolio all mentioned. But they agree that he ordered the talks with Likud canceled because of the speech.

Eisenkot also framed unity and Israeli solidarity as important to national security, while his party said it had sought negotiations with all Knesset factions on four principles for forming a government. No further meeting was scheduled in the reports.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 6 newsrooms. Updated 10 Nov, 23:57