Netanyahu and Eisenkot Complete Security Briefing, Agree to Continue Updates

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, the Yashar chairman tasked with forming Israel’s next government, completed a security briefing on Thursday, November 12. The meeting took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem. Netanyahu and his military secretary, Maj. Gen. Guy Markizeno, briefed Eisenkot, a reserve lieutenant general, on Israel’s current security and diplomatic challenges, according to the joint completion statement. The statement said: “The parties agreed to proceed with mutual updates as the need arises.” President Isaac Herzog formally tasked Eisenkot with forming a government on November 8 at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem. After consulting all elected factions, Herzog said parties representing 67 members of the incoming 26th Knesset had recommended Eisenkot. Factions representing 46 members recommended Netanyahu, while one faction representing seven members recommended nobody. Herzog acknowledged that Likud was the largest faction, but said the recommendations and earlier precedents supported assigning the task to Eisenkot under Basic Law: The Government. The president called for a stable government and asked Eisenkot to work toward one that would serve the entire public.