Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that forming a unity government is “simply necessary,” ignoring the step of President Isaac Herzog, who on Sunday officially assigned his opponent, Gadi Eisenkot, to form the government. Both Eisenkot and Netanyahu presented the idea of forming a national unity government, but both stipulated that he be the one to head it.
Published on: 09/11/2026 - 22:12
The day after his opponent, Gadi Eisenkot, was assigned to form the government, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu renewed his call, on Monday, for a “unity government” that would allow him to remain in power.
Netanyahu said in a video posted on social media on Monday: “A unity government is a necessity, quite simply,” ignoring the step of President Isaac Herzog, who officially assigned Eisenkot on Sunday to form the government.
The Change Bloc, led by Eisenkot, won 48 seats in the legislative elections that took place on October 27, while Netanyahu's right-wing bloc won 53 seats. Neither party was able to obtain the majority necessary to form the government, which is 61 seats in the 120-seat Knesset.
Read also: What are the three options available to Eisenkot to form the next Israeli government?
During consultations conducted by Herzog last week with party leaders, Eisenkot obtained recommendations from 67 deputies, compared to 46 deputies who recommended assigning Netanyahu.
But these recommendations included the Arab parties in Israel, which achieved significant gains of 19 seats, in the face of the policy of the right-wing Netanyahu government towards the Arab minority in Israel.
In the video, Netanyahu warned the Israelis about what he considered the danger of including Israeli Arabs in the future government.
He said: “It is not possible to form a government with supporters of Hamas, a government that depends on supporters of Hamas,” repeating his intimidation rhetoric against the Arab parties in Israel, which he had also previously accused of “stealing the elections,” without providing any evidence. On the other hand, these parties deny involvement in any violations in the electoral process.
But Eisenkot faces refusal from within the opposition bloc to include Arab parties in the government formation. These parties could also vote for him to take power without joining the government coalition, which would make the government weak.
A "unity government" led by Likud
Netanyahu called for a unity government led by his Likud party, with all religious Zionist and Jewish parties participating in it. Opposition bloc member Avigdor Lieberman, a former aide to Netanyahu who became one of his harshest critics despite supporting many of his policies, expressed his rejection of any partnership with Arab parties.
Read also: After he was officially assigned to form a government... Eisenkot invites Netanyahu’s party to join it
He called instead for an alliance with ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties, although he has long criticized their demands to exempt religious institute students from military service. On Monday, Lieberman met with Eisenkot to show unity in the opposition camp.
A statement by the Yashar Party led by Eisenkot said that the two men "expressed full confidence in their ability to form a stable government for a full four-year term." Both Eisenkot and Netanyahu presented the idea of forming a national unity government, but both stipulated that he be the one to head it.
Eisenkot said in public statements, “Netanyahu poses a danger, and is not qualified to lead Israel,” basing this on his failure to prevent the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and the deep divisions it caused within Israeli society, in addition to the corruption issues he faces, which may lead to his imprisonment if he leaves power.
France 24/AFP
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