Gadi Eizenkot, leader of the Yashar party and a former Israeli chief of staff, announced his intention to lead a new government in Israel, saying that “the Israeli people voted for change and to replace the current government.” In a message in English and Hebrew on Wednesday evening, November 4, addressed to “Israel’s friends in the United States and around the world,” he said: “I intend to bring Israel new leadership, leadership that serves all Israelis.”
Eizenkot is not prime minister and has not yet been tasked with forming a government, as Benjamin Netanyahu remains at the helm of the caretaker government. However, opposition leaders agreed to nominate him to President Isaac Herzog, who began two days of consultations with parliamentary blocs on Wednesday. After the United Arab List announced its support for him, Eizenkot is expected to receive recommendations from 56 lawmakers, compared with 46 for Netanyahu, according to Haaretz, likely giving him the first opportunity to form a government.
“A Jewish and democratic Israel” with his partners
Eizenkot said: “Together with my partners, we will build a stronger Israel: a Jewish and democratic Israel, committed to liberal values and equality for all, and confident in its future.” He said work was underway to form a “national emergency government” as soon as possible, adding that Israeli democracy remained “strong and vibrant.”
His camp includes Yashar, the second-largest party after Likud; the Yahad alliance led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid; Yisrael Beiteinu, led by Avigdor Lieberman; and the Democrats, headed by Yair Golan. Their leaders met Tuesday in Herzliya. The bloc holds 48 of the 120 seats, compared with 53 for Netanyahu’s camp, while Arab lists won a record 19 seats in the October 27 election. Any coalition needs 61 seats.
Reaching out to Trump and a “partnership between two peoples”
Eizenkot devoted much of his message to relations with Washington, saying: “I look forward to working closely and constructively with President Trump and his administration, whose friendship and commitment to Israel we deeply appreciate.” He continued: “Together, we can advance our shared security interests, strengthen regional stability and open new doors to prosperity for the peoples of the Middle East.”
He described the relationship as a partnership between two peoples built over generations, pledging to renew and deepen it and strengthen the foundations of support for Israel among Republicans and Democrats. His message came a day after Democrats took control of both chambers of Congress and hours after U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said that voters were calling for “a change in the relationship with Israel.” He concluded: “This is the Israel I believe in.”
Netanyahu calls for a broad government led by Likud
Netanyahu, in his first appearance since the election on Wednesday evening, called for a “broad national government led by Likud” under his leadership, bringing together the parties in his camp and all willing Zionist parties. He said “radical Islam” threatened Israel from outside through Iran and its proxies, and from within through what he called “Islamic parties that support terrorism.” He warned that a government dependent on these parties “will not fight our enemies; it will simply dismantle us from within,” adding: “This is a matter of life and death.”
He accused leaders of the left-wing bloc of seeking to form a “narrow minority government” dependent on those parties and of setting “impossible conditions” to prevent the formation of a broad national government. His remarks came after his camp accused Arab lists of fraud, allegations that the Central Elections Committee found no evidence to support.
Photos: Agencies, Israeli Government Press Office, Yashar party
