Israel heading back to elections? Netanyahu said to prefer new vote over unity government

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided against attempts to form a unity government and is instead planning for repeat elections, according to Hebrew media reports.

This rejection would apply to a coalition with either the Yashar party, led by challenger Gadi Eisenkot, or the inclusion of either the B’Yachad party, led by Naftali Bennett, or the Yisrael Beytenu party, led by Avigdor Liberman.

Right-wing news outlet Channel 14, a staunch supporter of Netanyahu, cited “sources involved” in the discussions who said Netanyahu made the decision after concluding that Eisenkot would likely reject a unity government with Netanyahu remaining prime minister, even under a rotation agreement.

The Channel 14 report claimed that Eisenkot rejected attempts to reach out to him via intermediaries. The channel also claimed that Netanyahu has already prepared a series of messages for his political base ahead of another round of elections.

Meanwhile, despite Netanyahu reportedly believing that Eisenkot would reject a unity government with him as prime minister, Israel Hayom reported that the “change bloc,” led by Eisenkot, is struggling to agree on a new Knesset speaker. According to the report, B’Yachad leaders Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid believe Eisenkot could still agree to a unity government with Netanyahu, despite having pledged during the election campaign not to join.

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana is likely to be replaced when the 26th Knesset is sworn in next week.

The role of Knesset Speaker is relatively powerful. The speaker is responsible for managing the “business of the Knesset,” including presiding over parliamentary sessions, recognizing members of Knesset (MKs) to speak, putting questions to a vote, determining the outcome of votes, and overseeing elections held in the Knesset.

Managing the business of the Knesset also involves significant procedural powers, including setting the number and agenda of weekly sessions, calling emergency sessions, and maintaining order in the plenum, including ejecting MKs for breaches of decorum.

Additionally, the Knesset speaker is entitled to sit in all Knesset committee meetings, giving the officeholder broad insight into current affairs and debates surrounding proposed legislation.

While Eisenkot is reportedly seeking a member of his Yashar party for the position, Bennett and Lapid are pushing for Lapid to become the next Knesset speaker, hoping to ensure that the opposition bloc retains some influence in the Knesset if Eisenkot decides to join a government with Netanyahu.

Liberman has already announced that he is not open to filling the role, as he is hoping for a ministerial position if Eisenkot’s bloc succeeds in forming a government.

The Yashar party already caused a stir in local media after reporting that several right-wing coalition members had approached members of the change bloc to discuss possible options for a unity government.

However, several of the politicians identified as having made the calls later denied discussing coalition agreements, insisting they only called colleagues to congratulate them on securing seats in the Knesset.

Despite his bloc receiving fewer votes than the previous coalition bloc, Eisenkot reportedly continues to stress that he intends “to form a Zionist, national-minded government – as broad as possible,” in the coming days.

Eisenkot appeared to encourage parties from the coalition bloc to partner with him, saying, “Any MK willing to sign on to these principles is a potential partner in the effort to establish a new and good government for Israel.”

The principles Eisenkot is reportedly calling for include recognizing Israel as a Jewish, democratic, liberal, and egalitarian state; upholding the principles of Israel’s Declaration of Independence; requiring all citizens to perform national service, either military or civilian; declaring Hamas a terrorist organization, a position rejected by all Arab parties; and committing to remove Hamas from Gaza.

“The door to the government we form will be open to any elected official who accepts these principles and is prepared to rise to the magnitude of the moment,” Eisenkot said in a statement Saturday evening.

At the same time, despite previous reports that Liberman was unwilling to meet Eisenkot over fears he would join a unity government with Netanyahu, the two leaders met earlier Sunday to discuss next steps for forming a coalition government.

Eisenkot is set to meet B’Yachad's No. 2, Lapid, later on Sunday evening, according to Hebrew media.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who is tasked with selecting a party leader to form a new governing coalition, called on them to “face reality” regarding the election results.

Speaking at a memorial ceremony for Israel’s first president, Chaim Weizmann, Herzog said he would begin consultations with all parties at the President’s Residence after receiving the official election results from Central Elections Committee Chairman Noam Sohlberg. He said the residence would be open to all factions as he seeks to find a way forward.

Herzog also said he hopes that party leaders are willing to “find creative solutions to prevent another election. As we all know, during an election campaign, naturally and predictably, candidates climb high up into the trees.”

“But the elections are over, the election results are an established fact – they are reality,” Herzog continued. “And this is the time to tell all the leaders: stop climbing the trees and face reality. This week at the President’s Residence, we will try to put up ladders, to enable the leaders to face reality, in a measured and careful manner.”