Netanyahu Urges Eisenkot to Hold Unity Talks Without Preconditions

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Gadi Eisenkot, leader of Yashar, on Saturday evening to begin negotiations on a national unity government without preconditions. In a recorded address, Netanyahu said their security briefing on Thursday had reinforced his view that a broad government was needed to confront Israel’s security challenges. “Let us enter a room, without preconditions, and put aside all disagreements and boycotts,” Netanyahu said. He called for a government bringing together parties that support Israel’s existence as the state of the Jewish people, and urged agreement on the country’s security and future. He included conscription among the issues to resolve, saying an agreement could be reached together with representatives of the Haredi public. Netanyahu said Iran was again seeking to renew its nuclear program. He argued that a narrow government, or one reliant on parties he characterized as supporters of terrorism, would be unable to meet that challenge. He presented a unity government as his preferred response and linked his invitation to national reconciliation. On November 12, Netanyahu and his military secretary, Maj. Gen. Guy Markizeno, briefed Eisenkot on Israel’s security and diplomatic challenges. Their joint statement afterward said they had agreed to continue mutual updates as needed. The briefing had been scheduled at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem.