Eisenkot says talks on Israeli emergency government have made progress

Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot said Friday that negotiations to form a national emergency government had made significant progress, and voiced hope that he would receive the mandate to form a government early next week, according to Anadolu Agency.

In a statement posted on “X”, Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, said Israel faced a “real, tangible and dangerous emergency”. He called for a swift transfer of power to prevent outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from remaining in office.

Eisenkot said 74 members of the 120-seat Knesset had not expressed confidence in Netanyahu’s continued leadership, while 46 supported the outgoing prime minister.

He said his team had held dozens of hours of negotiations with opposition parties, making “significant progress and breakthroughs” toward forming a national emergency coalition.

Eisenkot sets out four principles for coalition

Eisenkot proposed that the government be based on four principles: recognition of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state; upholding the values of its Declaration of Independence; requiring military, national or civilian service for all; and recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization while committing to dismantle its military and governing capabilities.

He said he would invite all parliamentary factions and lawmakers willing to accept the principles to join the proposed government.

Eisenkot warned that another election would prolong political uncertainty and allow Netanyahu to remain in office as caretaker prime minister.

Herzog to decide on government-forming mandate Sunday

His remarks came a day after Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced that he would decide on Sunday which lawmaker to task with forming the next government.

After consulting political parties, Herzog said factions representing 67 lawmakers had recommended Eisenkot, compared with 46 who backed Netanyahu.

Israel’s Oct. 27 elections produced a fragmented parliament. Netanyahu’s bloc secured 53 seats, the Jewish opposition bloc won 48 and Arab-led parties took 19, leaving no bloc with the 61 seats needed for a majority.