Ben-Barak Rejects Netanyahu’s Renewed Unity Appeal

Together MK Ram Ben-Barak rejected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s renewed appeal for unity on November 11, responding to a video of Netanyahu speaking at the Knesset that afternoon. Ben-Barak said his side understood Israel’s challenges and opportunities at least as well as Netanyahu and would handle them better. “Thanks for the offer; we’ll take it from here without you,” Ben-Barak wrote in his response. Netanyahu said the public knew how to unite in moments of trial and that Israel was approaching such moments. He said he could not disclose what he knew about the country’s challenges and opportunities, described unity as the need of the hour and said he would continue extending a hand. The exchange came during efforts to form a government. On November 5, Together’s delegation, which included Ben-Barak, recommended Gadi Eisenkot to President Isaac Herzog for the task. Herzog formally assigned Eisenkot, the chairman of Yashar, to form the government at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem on November 8. At that ceremony, Herzog called for a stable government serving both its supporters and those who did not support it, across communities, religions and ways of life, and urged national unity.