Netanyahu and Eisenkot discuss possible unity government in Israel

Israel’s caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot are holding talks on Sunday to explore a national unity government.

Netanyahu, in a video statement on Saturday, said his Thursday meeting with Eisenkot reinforced his belief that a coalition is essential for Israel’s security, claiming it could “eliminate the Iranian threat once and for all” and warning that Tehran would “not hesitate to use nuclear weapons against us”.

Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party and tasked by President Isaac Herzog to form the next government, dismissed Netanyahu’s appeal as a “bluff”, but confirmed that his party and Likud are discussing a shared government.

In the 27 October election, Eisenkot’s four‑party bloc secured 48 of the 120 Knesset seats, while Netanyahu’s right‑wing and religious bloc won 53. Two Arab‑led parties, the Joint List and Ra’am, together won a record 19 seats.

Eisenkot’s bloc, with the backing of the Arab parties, holds 67 seats – six more than the 61 needed for a majority. Options include a minority government supported by Ra’am’s eight lawmakers, or a coalition with ultra‑Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism, which would also reach the required 61 seats.

President Herzog has set a deadline of 6 December for Eisenkot to form a government, with the possibility of a 14‑day extension.

Source: Al Jazeera. Photo: Max Avans / Pexels.