Barak Urges Eisenkot to Swiftly Form Government and Replace Netanyahu

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday urged Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot to form a new government without delay, emphasizing that the immediate priority must be replacing Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration.

“Eisenkot should move as quickly as possible,” Barak, who served as prime minister from 1999 to 2001, told Israel’s public broadcaster KAN. “The most important pledge is to oust Netanyahu, and the first priority is to replace this government,” he added.

Barak stated he would welcome the inclusion of Arab parties in the next coalition. He also noted that Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party could have served as a partner in a unity government—provided Netanyahu himself was not part of it.

Separately, caretaker Defense Minister Israel Katz appealed for national unity in the face of what he described as “Iranian threats.” In remarks reported by the Israel Hayom newspaper, Katz claimed Iran was attempting to resume efforts to acquire nuclear weapons. “This is a time for unity, responsibility and mutual solidarity,” he said.

On Saturday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced he would task Eisenkot with forming the next government. The formal handover of the mandate was scheduled for 5 p.m. local time (1500 GMT) on Sunday.

Herzog’s office confirmed that factions representing 67 members of the 120-seat Knesset recommended Eisenkot, while factions representing 46 members backed Netanyahu. A seven-member faction declined to recommend a candidate.

Eisenkot’s bloc lacks an outright parliamentary majority. Support from Arab parties was instrumental in securing the 67 recommendations, though his allies remain divided over whether to bring those parties into the coalition.

Under Israel’s Basic Law, Eisenkot will have 28 days to form a government once he receives the mandate, with the possibility of a 14-day extension granted by the president.

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