Netanyahu renews call for Israeli unity government as Eisenkot dismisses ‘tricks’

Caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu renewed his call for a national unity government with Gadi Eisenkot, who is negotiating to form Israel’s next government. Their public disagreement matters because Eisenkot’s attempt to assemble a governing majority faces difficult negotiations, while Netanyahu argues that a broader coalition is needed to address security threats, especially Iran.

Eisenkot was asked on Sunday to form a government within 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension. His bloc has 48 lawmakers, compared with 46 supporting Netanyahu; the remaining 26 members could abstain, allowing Eisenkot’s proposed minority government to pass in the 120-seat Knesset. Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of using “tricks” and called for a break with far-right figures, while saying he could work with Likud and other parties if their commitment to unity was sincere.