Israel’s opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot on Tuesday rejected the possibility of joining a government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he would not change his position even if US President Donald Trump asked him to.
Israel election results leave both blocs short of majority
The Jerusalem Post reported last week that people associated with Trump had spoken to Israeli officials after the election about the possibility of such an arrangement. The reported proposal is aimed at ensuring political stability in Israel and facilitating the formation of a government without prolonged negotiations. The Yashar party chairman also indicated that he would agree to meet Trump if invited but would oppose any attempt by the US president to influence Israel’s internal political decisions. Opposition leaders Naftali Bennett, Yair Golan and Avigdor Liberman have reportedly agreed to recommend Eisenkot to President Isaac Herzog as the candidate best positioned to form the next government. Under Israel’s parliamentary system, the president consults political parties after an election before assigning a candidate the task of forming a government. The candidate must then negotiate with other parties to secure the parliamentary support required to establish a coalition. The meeting is expected to focus on coordinating the opposition’s position and discussing the next steps in the government formation process.
“I will not sit in a government led by Netanyahu,” Eisenkot was quoted as saying. “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,” he reportedly said. A Likud official, quoted by The Washington Post, said Trump’s priority was to see a stable administration take shape quickly after the election. “What Trump wants is a stable and reliable Israeli government that can be formed as soon as possible after the election,” the official said.
Eisenkot, Bennett, Golan, Liberman and outgoing opposition leader Yair Lapid are scheduled to hold their first joint meeting since the election on Tuesday, according to The Jerusalem Post.
