Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot invited allies of interim Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to join a national emergency government, saying Israel could not afford another election. (Foto: Instagram)
Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot invited allies of interim Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to join a national emergency government in Israel on Sunday, Nov. 8. Eisenkot said the country could not afford another round of elections amid growing political and security challenges.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog had tasked Eisenkot with forming the next government. After the appointment, Eisenkot sought to ease political divisions and draw support from Netanyahu’s allies, including members of Likud and Religious Zionism.
“If Likud and Religious Zionism members truly believe this is a time for unity, as they told the president, I can’t imagine why they would not support a government under my leadership and the principles I have put forward,” Eisenkot said.
Herzog announced Eisenkot’s selection on Saturday, Nov. 7, as political parties negotiated over forming a majority coalition in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. The president’s decision came after no political bloc secured enough seats to govern.
Israel held elections in late October to choose a new parliament, with results announced on Oct. 29. No bloc won the 61 seats required for a majority in the Knesset. In that situation, the president decides which candidate for prime minister gets the opportunity to form a government.
