Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has initiated efforts to explore the formation of a national unity government following the general elections held on October 27. As the Central Elections Committee continues to process the final ballots, political manoeuvring has intensified in Jerusalem, with reports emerging that the Prime Minister's camp is looking to include opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot in a future coalition.
The push for a potential unity arrangement comes despite a public pledge by Eisenkot that he would not serve under Netanyahu’s leadership. According to reports, individuals close to the Likud chief have been briefing the media on a plan that would bring Eisenkot into a government framework alongside current cabinet members, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. These sources suggest that Likud officials believe Eisenkot may eventually reconsider his position, citing a lack of viable alternatives for the opposition bloc following the recent electoral turnout.
Two primary versions of this proposed cooperation have surfaced in recent discussions. The first involves a rotation agreement, wherein Netanyahu would hold the prime ministerial office for approximately two years—focused on regional peace initiatives and policy regarding Iran—before handing the premiership to Eisenkot. An alternative proposal suggests a more standard coalition role, where Eisenkot would be offered a senior ministerial portfolio without a rotation guarantee. Likud officials believe this structure, which would theoretically exclude ultra-Orthodox parties initially, could help resolve long-standing legislative issues surrounding military conscription for ultra-Orthodox men.
The proposed legislative strategy involves passing the conscription law before inviting the ultra-Orthodox parties to join the broader coalition. Supporters of this plan within the Likud camp argue that such a move would provide Eisenkot with a significant political achievement, potentially creating enough incentive for him to break with his opposition counterparts. Concurrently, reports from N12 News indicate that Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman has been distancing himself from the opposition, allegedly ceasing communication with Eisenkot and former prime minister Naftali Bennett.
Despite the efforts originating from the Netanyahu camp, members of the opposition have firmly rejected the possibility of such a deal. Political figures within the opposition bloc have described the prospect of joining a Netanyahu-led government as a move that would be both morally and politically damaging to Eisenkot’s career. These critics argue that the political climate has shifted significantly since previous instances of power-sharing, and suggest that their voter base would prefer to engage with different political alliances rather than reconcile with the current right-wing partners.
The uncertainty remains high as the final results of the election have yet to be formally submitted to the Israeli president, a process not expected to conclude until next week. The ultimate shape of the government will depend heavily on the final seat counts and Netanyahu’s success in securing a majority beyond his existing bloc. While officials around the Prime Minister continue to argue that the opposition has exhausted its electoral potential, there is no official indication that Eisenkot has agreed to open negotiations on the terms offered by the Likud party.
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