Netanyahu Renews Unity Government Offer, Eisenkot Dismisses It as a 'Tactic' Within Minutes

Israel's caretaker prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has renewed his call to form a national unity government with opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to ensure Israel's security. But Eisenkot, who has been tasked with forming the government, rejected the call within minutes, describing it as a 'tactic'.

In a video message on Saturday, Netanyahu said that after meeting Eisenkot on Thursday his belief had grown stronger that forming a national unity government was extremely urgent. Netanyahu said such a government would make it possible to 'eliminate the Iranian threat forever'. He claimed Tehran would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons against Israel. He said: 'Let us sit in a room and talk, without any preconditions.'

Within minutes, Eisenkot rejected Netanyahu's call. The former Israeli army chief said Netanyahu knows he has lost the election. In his words: 'When talks are already under way, Netanyahu is calling for talks. These tactics will not work on me.'

In the election of 27 October, neither side won an outright majority. In the 120-seat Knesset, the alliance of Netanyahu's right-wing and religious parties won 53 seats. Eisenkot's four-party alliance won 48 seats. Arab-led parties won a record 19 seats.

Last week Israel's president Isaac Herzog tasked Eisenkot with forming the government. A total of 67 lawmakers, including members of the Arab-led parties, expressed support for him. Netanyahu, by contrast, received the support of 46. Eisenkot will have 28 days to form a government, extendable by a further 14 days if needed. He has, however, announced his decision not to include the Arab-led parties in his government.

Under Eisenkot's plan, a minority 'national emergency government' would be formed. His alliance's 48 lawmakers would vote for the government, Netanyahu's 46 supporters would vote against, and 26 lawmakers from Arab and ultra-Orthodox parties could abstain. That would make it possible to form a government without an absolute majority. Netanyahu, however, has warned that such a government would cause Israel's 'fall'.

Netanyahu's proposed national unity government would include centrist and right-wing Jewish parties, but his plan is to keep the Arab parties out. Netanyahu and his allies have claimed, without any evidence, that the Arab-led parties 'rigged' the election to snatch victory. On Friday Eisenkot described Netanyahu's campaign as 'racist'.

Eisenkot has said that if their commitment to national unity is sincere, he is ready to work with members of Netanyahu's Likud party and with Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism party. But he has stressed 'severing ties with extremists', and in particular opposes keeping supporters of the far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in the government.

On Tuesday, Israel's parliament, the Knesset, will elect its speaker. The post is currently held by Amir Ohana, a close ally of Netanyahu. The opposition parties have nominated former military officer Matan Kahana in his place.