President Isaac Herzog tasked Eisenkot with forming a government after 67 lawmakers backed him, while Netanyahu secured only 46 endorsements. Eisenkot is pursuing a minority national emergency government that relies on abstentions from Arab and ultra-Orthodox lawmakers to pass. Netanyahu warned this arrangement would lead to national collapse, urging instead a coalition of center and right-wing Jewish parties. An upcoming vote on whether to retain parliamentary speaker Amir Ohana will serve as an immediate test of both leaders' legislative strength.
Key points
Gadi Eisenkot is attempting to navigate the hung parliament by forming a minority nationa…: Gadi Eisenkot is attempting to navigate the hung parliament by forming a minority national emergency government without Arab-led parties.
Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to bypass his rival's mandate by forming a broader coalitio…: Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to bypass his rival's mandate by forming a broader coalition made up of center and right-wing Jewish factions.
The forthcoming vote on the Knesset speaker will serve as an immediate indicator of parli…: The forthcoming vote on the Knesset speaker will serve as an immediate indicator of parliamentary control between the two rival factions.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Eisenkot, in charge of forming a government, dismisses the appeal as ‘tricks’ as talks and a Knesset speaker vote loom.
Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has renewed his call for a national unity government with his rival, Gadi Eisenkot, saying only such a government can guarantee Israel’s security.
In a video statement on Saturday, Netanyahu said a meeting with Eisenkot on Thursday “only strengthened the conviction that it is essential to form a national unity government”.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 items- list 1 of 3Netanyahu fights to stay relevant as Israel’s opposition closes in
- list 2 of 3‘Greater Israel’: Christian Zionism’s role in US policy
- list 3 of 3Iranophobia: Netanyahu’s bid to transform fear into political survival
The prime minister said such a government could “eliminate the Iranian threat once and for all”, claiming Tehran would “not hesitate to use nuclear weapons against us”.
“Let’s meet in one room, without preconditions,” he said.
Within minutes, however, Eisenkot dismissed the appeal as a ploy.
A former army chief, Eisenkot said Netanyahu “knows he lost the election”.
Islamabad is dispatching its climate minister to New Delhi for a multilateral cultural summit, utilizing regional diplomacy to sustain contact amid frozen bilateral ties. The rare diplomatic exchange comes despite strained relations following last year's Pahalgam terror attack, which hardened India's stance against formal bilateral negotiations. Multilateral forums like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation continue to provide the only functional channel for official cross-border representation between the two nei…
The lethal blast strikes a diverse suburb grappling with sectarian friction between Druze residents and Sunni government backers. Despite overall stabilization following Bashar al-Assad's fall two years ago, Damascus remains vulnerable to recurring insurgent violence typically blamed on ISIL. The attack underscores the fragile security environment confronting Syrian authorities despite their recent integration into the anti-ISIL coalition.
Mia Latter, who was previously known as "Alice" in a 2023 media investigation, has waived her anonymity to advocate for a staggered age of consent framework. She argues that severe power imbalances leave 16- and 17-year-olds vulnerable to much older adults in their thirties or beyond. To prioritize this legal reform effort, she has decided to step away from active involvement in the criminal justice process.