OMM Newsroom
The first round of talks between representatives of Yashar, led by Prime Minister-designate Gadi Eisenkot, and caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud ended on Sunday without progress towards forming a unity government, according to Anadolu Agency.
The parties disagree over who would serve as prime minister and which groups would be included in the government. The daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the meeting, held at a hotel in Herzliya, lasted about an hour and 15 minutes.
Knesset members Hili Tropper and Yoav Horowitz represented Yashar. Likud was represented by its parliamentary faction chair, Ofir Katz, and lawyer Michael Rabello, Netanyahu’s former legal adviser. Shalom Shlomo, a political adviser to former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, attended on behalf of Bennett’s Together party.
Eisenkot is seeking to form a government under his leadership, without rotating the premiership with Netanyahu. Likud says it will not join unless Netanyahu serves as prime minister, either outright or under a rotation agreement, Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
Likud is also insisting that all parties in Netanyahu’s bloc join the government, including Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party. This is another point of disagreement with Eisenkot.
The talks are taking place despite opposition from Eisenkot’s partners Yair Lapid, Avigdor Lieberman and Yair Golan to joining any government that includes Netanyahu.
Golan criticised the negotiations, saying that replacing Netanyahu and Likud would require building a political partnership among their opponents. He said there was a “clear democratic verdict” that should be respected.
Eisenkot said a unity government should be founded on shared values, including public education, military service, public service and solidarity among citizens. Political agreements and the allocation of posts alone would not be enough, he said.
Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Eisenkot held a private meeting last week with Yaakov Asher, leader of United Torah Judaism, as part of efforts to explore whether ultra-Orthodox parties could join his government.
The newspaper said differences remained after the first round of talks and that substantial progress towards a unity government would likely require a direct meeting between Netanyahu and Eisenkot.
The Knesset is scheduled to vote on Tuesday on replacing its current speaker, Amir Ohana of Likud, with Yashar lawmaker Matan Kahana.
Elections for the 26th Knesset were held on Oct. 27, 2026, after the previous parliament completed its statutory term.
The election strengthened the opposition to Netanyahu, led by Eisenkot, whom 67 Knesset members recommended to form the government. Netanyahu received 46 recommendations, while seven lawmakers declined to recommend either candidate.
Likud won the most seats, but President Isaac Herzog gave Eisenkot the mandate to form a government on Nov. 8. Eisenkot has 28 days to do so, with a possible 14-day extension.
Eisenkot has since held consultations with ultra-Orthodox parties and other political groups as he seeks to form a coalition, amid disagreements over military conscription and the participation of Arab parties. Netanyahu’s calls for a unity government prompted negotiations between Likud and Yashar, which have yet to produce an agreement.
