Likud and Yashar to hold unity talks after Eisenkot rejects Netanyahu's appeal

Negotiating teams from Likud and Yashar are scheduled to meet on Sunday to discuss a possible unity government. Likud is led by caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Yashar is led by Gadi Eisenkot.

On Saturday, Netanyahu publicly called on Eisenkot to form a national unity government with him. He linked the call to the threat he says Iran poses to Israel. The two men held talks on Thursday. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe what was discussed.

Eisenkot publicly rejected the appeal. Al Jazeera quoted him as saying: "Nice try, but these tricks don't work on me. Nor on Israel's citizens." According to Al Jazeera, Eisenkot also confirmed that the two parties were discussing the proposal.

According to Infobae, Yashar will send Yoav Horowitz and Chili Tropper to Sunday's talks. Likud will send Ofir Katz and Michael Rabello.

Israel held a parliamentary election on 27 October. President Isaac Herzog gave Eisenkot the mandate to form the next government. Herzog can extend the deadline by up to 14 days. According to Al Jazeera, the deadline is 6 December, or 20 December with an extension. Infobae describes a 28-day period.

Parties aligned with Eisenkot hold 48 of the Knesset's 120 seats. Arab-led parties won 19 seats. Together, they amount to 67. According to Al Jazeera, the Joint List won 11 seats and Ra'am won 8. Al Jazeera also reports that, with backing from both Arab-led parties, Eisenkot's bloc won a 63-50 vote on the makeup of the Knesset's Arrangements Committee.

Experts cited by Al Jazeera see a coalition between Eisenkot's bloc and the ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism as the most likely outcome. That would give it 61 seats. Al Jazeera reports, without naming a source, that advisers from one United Torah Judaism faction sought a written commitment to pass a law exempting religious seminary students from military service and to shield it from being struck down by the High Court. The same report says Eisenkot and Avigdor Lieberman are reportedly opposed to this compromise.

What is disputed

Accounts of Netanyahu's support differ. Al Jazeera reports that his right-wing and religious bloc won 53 seats. Infobae reports that up to 46 lawmakers openly back his bid to form a government. The figures may measure different things.

What each side says

Netanyahu says a unity government is essential. Al Jazeera quoted him as saying it could "eliminate the Iranian threat once and for all". He also said Tehran would "not hesitate to use nuclear weapons against us". According to Infobae, he wants an alliance without preconditions, and he proposes excluding Arab parties.

Eisenkot calls the appeal a bluff. According to Infobae, he says Netanyahu knows he lost the election, and he accuses Netanyahu of running a racist and violent campaign against Arab citizens. Infobae also reports that Eisenkot says he has the backing of 67 lawmakers. According to Al Jazeera, he says members of Likud and the Religious Zionist Party are welcome if they back a government under his leadership.

Analysis

Sunday's talks take place while both leaders publicly reject the other's terms. Netanyahu wants Arab-led parties excluded. Eisenkot wants Likud to accept his leadership and programme. Several paths remain possible. Eisenkot could rely on the 67 seats that include Arab-led parties, or he could seek a 61-seat coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties, which may bring conscription back to the centre of negotiations. A unity arrangement also cannot be ruled out. The reports do not include on-record positions from Shas, United Torah Judaism, Ra'am or the Joint List. Their choices, and the mandate deadline, are likely to shape the outcome.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.