TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Gadi Eisenkot, the politician tasked with forming a new Israeli government, pledged on Tuesday to reverse many of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies as the new parliament was sworn in.
Eisenkot’s bloc introduced a series of bills at the start of the legislative session that target Netanyahu and his policies. The pledge sets the stage for a consequential month of legislative action and coalition negotiations. Eisenkot, a former military chief, has up to six weeks to form a government that would end the tenure of Israel’s longest-serving prime minister. the new Knesset can enact legislation in the meantime While it remains unclear whether Eisenkot will be able to forge a coalition government. Netanyahu’s opponents now control a solid majority in parliament. They include launching an official government-led inquiry into Hamas’ Oct. It was not immediately clear how quickly or far those bills would advance in the weeks ahead. Meanwhile, Eisenkot will meet with party leaders as he works to build a coalition that would likely make him prime minister. If he fails, Israeli President Isaac Herzog is expected to give Netanyahu the next opportunity to form a government. Netanyahu has argued that Jewish-led parties should form a unity government to counter the threat of an Iranian attack.
7, 2023, attacks, setting term limits on the position of prime minister and overturning changes the outgoing Netanyahu-led government made to limit the powers of the judiciary.
“We will act for all citizens of Israel, those who voted for us and those who did not, out of deep commitment,” Eisenkot said ahead of the Knesset swearing-in ceremony. He renewed that call Tuesday, urging them to “set aside all other considerations,” and said Israel should work to topple the Iranian government. The former general, who campaigned as a no-nonsense straight shooter, reiterated on Tuesday that his goal was a government that all Israelis could trust, not one that represents only certain factions.
