Lapid and Eisenkot Meet to Coordinate Moves After Election

Yair Lapid said on Saturday evening, October 31, that he had met Gadi Eisenkot to discuss the election results and coordinate their next moves. In his announcement, Lapid identified Eisenkot as chairman of Yashar and said the meeting had taken place a short time earlier. Lapid described “a shared commitment to fulfilling the voters’ wishes.” His brief statement confirmed the discussion but did not set out a coalition agreement, a division of ministerial portfolios or a timetable for another meeting. The announcement concerned coordination following the vote rather than an agreement to establish a government. The meeting followed Lapid’s October 30 message asking supporters for patience over government formation. He described the process as complicated rather than an exact science, contrasting the public campaigning before an election with slower discussions in small rooms away from cameras. He said political work was continuing behind the apparent quiet. President Isaac Herzog had outlined the next formal stage on October 29. In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Herzog said he would meet representatives of every Knesset faction after receiving the official results. Referring to consultations the following week, he asked political leaders to consider what was best for the country.