Eisenkot Rejects Netanyahu Coalition, Even Under Trump Pressure

Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yesh Atid party, has firmly declared that he will not join a government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasizing that this stance holds even if US President Donald Trump personally intervenes, as reported by KAN.

In a closed-door meeting, Eisenkot reiterated his refusal to serve under Netanyahu, citing unnamed sources from the public broadcaster.

While he would accept an invitation to meet with Trump, Eisenkot stated he would oppose any American involvement in Israeli political affairs, insisting that such matters are internal to Israel.

“If Trump calls me, I will respect the president and come, but I will insist that this is an internal Israeli matter and will avoid interference,” Eisenkot said during the discussions.

Recent reports indicate that Trump’s associates engaged with Israeli officials post-election to explore the feasibility of a unity government incorporating both Netanyahu and Eisenkot.

A source from Likud, speaking to The Washington Post, noted that Trump seeks a stable and reliable Israeli government formed promptly after the election.

The Washington Post also revealed that Netanyahu expressed belief to US officials that Eisenkot would be an ideal partner should tensions with Iran escalate, aiming for a more moderate coalition in such a scenario.

Opposition figures, including Naftali Bennett, Yair Golan, and Avigdor Liberman, have all endorsed Eisenkot as their candidate for prime minister to President Isaac Herzog.

These leaders, alongside Eisenkot and outgoing opposition head Yair Lapid, are set to convene in their first joint meeting since the election.

The election results failed to secure a majority for either bloc in the 120-member Knesset, with Netanyahu’s alliance winning 53 seats and the opposition securing 48. The Arab parties’ 19 seats could potentially bolster Eisenkot’s support to 67 lawmakers.

Government formation faces hurdles due to divisions over relying on Arab party support, with Liberman explicitly rejecting any coalition dependent on them or a partnership with Netanyahu.

Source link