Israeli Politicsupdated 15m ago2 min read
MapNetanyahu and Eisenkot Issue Diplomatic and Security Update at Prime Minister’s Office
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This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Eisenkot's coalition accepts any partner who endorses four principles, including destroying Hamas. Netanyahu and Eisenkot discuss possible renewed military action against Iran in security briefing.
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Security channel reopens
Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot issued a joint statement announcing a diplomatic and security update at the Prime Minister’s Office, with Netanyahu’s military secretary, Maj.-Gen. Guy Markizano, taking part.
The Jerusalem Post framed the moment as part of coalition negotiations, writing that Eisenkot was tasked by President Isaac Herzog with trying to form a government and that “Netanyahu does not surrender.”
The Jerusalem Post also quoted Eisenkot’s warning to defense establishment leaders, saying: “Netanyahu is the head of a caretaker government without a mandate of public confidence.”
The Times of Israel reported that Eisenkot was expected to receive a security briefing from Netanyahu’s military secretary after Eisenkot accused the caretaker premier’s office of failing to arrange briefings despite his requests.
The Jerusalem Post described the political backdrop as “Rip fVan Winkle season,” when it is hard to tell what is real, what is posturing, and what is wishful thinking.
Mandate, deadlines, and leverage
President Isaac Herzog tasked Yashar! party leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming Israel’s next government, and the Jerusalem Post said Eisenkot was given 28 days to form the government with a possible extension of 14 days at the president’s discretion. The Jerusalem Post said the campaign for the next election was already underway, adding that if Eisenkot fails, Netanyahu gets a chance, and if Netanyahu also doesn’t succeed, the country would likely go back to the ballot box. Ynetglobal said Eisenkot had about three weeks remaining to announce that he had secured a coalition, with the possibility of an additional 14-day extension.
Ynetglobal reported that Eisenkot invited every parliamentary faction on Sunday to join a government based on his four principles, and it said he held what his associates described as a significant meeting with Liberman on Monday. Ynetglobal also quoted Eisenkot’s post on X, including his line: “I intend to leave no stone unturned and speak with every elected representative who agrees to the four principles”.
Knesset reshuffle and coalition math
The Jerusalem Post said Eisenkot reiterated that his coalition would be open to anyone who accepts his four principles, including that everyone must serve and that Hamas’s governing and military capabilities must be destroyed. The Jerusalem Post reported that the change bloc’s 48 MKs and the Arab parties’ 19 MKs gave Eisenkot the votes on Wednesday to elect Yashar’s Roy Folkman as chairman of the Arrangements Committee. The Jerusalem Post said Eisenkot’s bloc was expected to give the votes to replace Likud’s Amir Ohana as Knesset speaker next Tuesday, and it described the arithmetic as already changing who runs the Knesset.
The Jerusalem Post connected the speaker choice to haredi coalition talks, noting that Eisenkot chose Matan Kahana over Yair Lapid and that Kahana had previously pushed to open kashrut certification to competition. The Jerusalem Post quoted Moshe Gafni shouting “Antiochus!” at Kahana in the plenum, likening the religious-Zionist minister and IDF veteran of nearly 30 years to the villain of Hanukkah.