Netanyahu again urges rival to join him in forming unity government

Israel’s political deadlock sharpened on Tuesday as caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again pressed for a national unity government — and rival Gadi Eisenkot, the prime-minister-designate, swiftly branded the offer a ploy.

The back-and-forth unfolded while Mr Eisenkot continues negotiations to assemble a governing coalition after being tasked with becoming prime minister.

In a video statement, Mr Netanyahu said a meeting with Mr Eisenkot had “only strengthened the conviction that it is essential to form a national unity government” to safeguard Israel’s security. Such a coalition, he argued, could “eliminate the Iranian threat once and for all”.

Mr Netanyahu said the government he envisions would include parties that recognise Israel “as a state for the Jewish people”.

He framed Iran as the foremost challenge, claiming Tehran would “not hesitate to use nuclear weapons against us”.

The outgoing prime minister also cautioned against Mr Eisenkot’s plan to build a minority government, which has been presented as a “national emergency government”.

Under that scenario, the 48 members of parliament in Mr Eisenkot’s bloc would back his government, against the 46 lawmakers aligned with Mr Netanyahu. The remaining 26 members of parliament — from Arab and ultra-Orthodox parties — could abstain, enabling approval without an absolute majority in the 120-seat Knesset.

“Instead of trying to form a weak and dangerous government… let’s meet in one room, without preconditions, put aside all our disagreements and all the boycotts, and reach agreements for the security and the future of the state,” Mr Netanyahu said.

Within minutes, Mr Eisenkot fired back, saying Mr Netanyahu “knows he lost the election” and accusing him of resorting to “tricks” by calling for unity talks.

“Netanyahu is calling for negotiations while they are already underway; he claims to want unity but… sows division and stokes tensions as if there were no tomorrow,” the former army chief said, adding: “these tricks don’t work on me”.

‘Break with extremists’

Mr Eisenkot was tasked last week with forming a new government within 28 days, with the option of a 14-day extension.

The bargaining is expected to be difficult, particularly after Mr Netanyahu ran a campaign aimed at discrediting Arab-Israeli parties, which secured a record number of seats in the election.

Mr Netanyahu’s unity proposal would draw together major Jewish parties from the centre to the right, while leaving out the Arab parties.

Mr Eisenkot has signalled he could consider a coalition that includes members of Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party, along with outgoing Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism — but only if their commitment to unity is “sincere”.

Latest Middle East stories

Even so, a unity government that includes Mr Netanyahu personally appears improbable, especially after Mr Eisenkot condemned what he called Mr Netanyahu’s “racist” campaign against Arab parties.

Mr Eisenkot repeated his demand for a “break with the extremists” — pointing in particular to supporters of far-right minister Itamar Ben Gvir — as a precondition for joining any government he leads.

The two camps are also clashing over who should serve as speaker of the Knesset. The post is currently held by Amir Ohana, a close ally of Mr Netanyahu, while the opposition has nominated Matan Kahana, a former Israeli army officer who was fifth on Mr Eisenkot’s list, to replace him.

“If they (Likud and its allies) are truly seeking a sincere political partnership, as they claim, they must allow the democratic process to unfold normally … and instruct their members of parliament to support the appointment of Matan Kahana,” Mr Eisenkot said.