Eisenkot Cancels Likud Coalition Talks After Netanyahu’s Knesset Speech

Gadi Eisenkot instructed his Yashar party to cancel a coalition-negotiation meeting with Likud scheduled for Wednesday, November 11. The party announced the decision on November 10 after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at the swearing-in of the 26th Knesset, describing his remarks and conduct as divisive. Yashar said it had approached every Knesset faction to discuss forming a government on the basis of its four principles, and that a meeting between its negotiating team and Likud’s had been arranged. The party accused Netanyahu of putting political survival ahead of social resilience. It said unity and Israeli solidarity remained goals it would continue pursuing. Likud responded that Netanyahu would continue working for national unity and that the party was prepared to meet representatives of any faction seeking it. It defended his rejection of cooperation with people it described as supporters of terrorism and lawmakers who left the chamber during Hatikvah. Likud also criticized the cancellation while contacts with Arab parties continued. President Isaac Herzog formally tasked Eisenkot with forming a government on November 8 at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem. In his statement at the handover, Herzog said factions representing 67 lawmakers had recommended Eisenkot, 46 had recommended Netanyahu, and a seven-member faction had recommended no candidate. He acknowledged that Likud was the largest faction and called for a stable government serving all communities.