Israel’s push to form a unity government suffered a setback on Tuesday after opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party canceled preliminary coalition talks, accusing caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of delivering a “divisive speech” at the opening of the new Knesset.
Netanyahu sharply attacked Arab parties in the address and accused them of supporting terrorism. He also criticized negotiations between Eisenkot’s opposition bloc, known as the Change Camp and Arab parties, rejecting the prospect of a government that relies on their support to form a coalition.
He also appealed to ultra-Orthodox parties currently in his coalition not to change sides and support the opposition.
Israel’s pivotal Oct. 27 election, the first since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks, was seen by many as a referendum on Netanyahu and on the future direction of the nation. But no party won an outright majority in the 120-seat Knesset, or an obvious path to a forming coalition, setting the scene for a protracted period of political maneuvering.
Netanyahu has made cooperation with Arab parties a central element of his attacks on Eisenkot as he attempts to undermine efforts to form an alternative government.
Yashar cancelled its planned unity government talks in protest at the speech which it said showed disrespect for the swearing-in ceremony at the Knesset, the party told MBN in a statement.
Yashar had said it would discuss forming a government with Netanyahu’s Likud’s based on several principles. Those include the recognition of Israel as a democratic Jewish state with equal rights, mandatory military service and a commitment to dismantling Hamas in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s speech offered further proof that he does not seek unity, the statement added, accusing him of putting his political survival ahead of social cohesion.
The Joint List, the largest Arab-majority political alliance, called the speech “inciting and racist” and a sign of political panic.
Likud said Netanyahu “will make every effort to achieve national unity” and that the party was prepared to meet representatives of any faction willing to do so. At the same time, it reiterated its refusal to cooperate with what it called “supporters of terrorism,” criticizing the continued contacts with parties representing Arab citizens of Israel.
Arab Parties in the Path to Power
Eisenkot has until Dec. 6 to form a government, after being tasked by Israeli President Isaac Herzog to do so earlier this month. He can ask for an extension of up to 14 days.
Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 seats in the elections and opposition parties won 48 but Eisenkot was seen as having the best path to building a coalition. Arab parties won 19 seats.
Eisenkot’s options are not limited to bringing Arab parties into the government. He could also secure their parliamentary support from outside the coalition or put in place an agreement for them to abstain from voting.
But relying on Arab parties’ support faces objections from within Eisenkot’s camp, while Netanyahu has rejected any political legitimacy for a coalition that depends on their backing.
Netanyahu’s Chances
The setback to the unity government talks does not extinguish Netanyahu’s chances of remaining prime minister, said to Gideon Rahat, a political science professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Netanyahu still has several paths to a new term in power, including winning back his ultra-Orthodox allies, seeking new elections or reviving coalition negotiations with the opposition.
Rahat told MBN he believes the prime minister is angling for new elections. He said the speech also serves Netanyahu’s immediate political objectives, including complicating efforts to form a government.
A unity government with the opposition may be Netanyahu’s only viable option, but Israel’s longtime leader would insist on leading it himself, he added. That is likely to be difficult for his opponents to accept.
Netanyahu has also cited what he sees as the growing security threat posed by Iran to push a unity government. In his Knesset speech, he warned that Iran was seeking to revive its nuclear program and that Israel could face mounting international pressure to accept a nuclear-armed Iran. Only a unity government could handle the threat, he said.
As caretaker prime minister, Netanyahu continues to oversee security matters until a new government is formed.
The Ultra-Orthodox Parties are a Weak Link
Israel’s ultra-Orthodox parties are in sharp focus in the government-formation calculations, amid signs that their traditional alliance with Netanyahu is fraying.
During President Herzog’s consultations with political factions, United Torah Judaism declined to recommend any candidate. The Shas, another religious party, endorsed Netanyahu.
The Times of Israel reported this week that Eisenkot and fellow opposition coalition member Avigdor Lieberman had agreed to open negotiations with Shas and United Torah Judaism, including discussions about possible concessions on the military conscription law.
But the contacts remain at an early stage and face opposition from within Eisenkot’s camp, which includes parties who have campaigned on ending religious exemptions for military service.
Netanyahu has been lobbying to prevent the ultra-Orthodox parties from joining the opposition. But his attempts to reach out to prominent rabbis in United Torah Judaism have reportedly been rebuffed, according to The Times of Israel.
In his speech, Netanyahu urged the ultra-Orthodox parties to settle the draft law in coordination with their spiritual leaders. He warned that opponents’ promises would come to nothing under a government “led by the left.”
Adapted and translated from the original Arabic.
