By Steven Scheer
JERUSALEM, Nov 8 (Reuters) – The former head of Israel’s Armed Forces, Gadi Eisenkot, said on Sunday that he will work to form a broad-based government as quickly as possible, but his path to power remains uncertain after an election that resulted in a stalemate and failed to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, granted Eisenkot on Saturday the first opportunity to attempt to form a new government after the October 27 election left both Eisenkot and Netanyahu without the majority needed to govern.
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Herzog officially entrusted Eisenkot with the task on Sunday, during a meeting at the presidential residence, launching what Eisenkot described as an “extraordinarily complex” process.
“We are in a state of emergency, approaching a point of no return for the State of Israel,” Eisenkot said. “We need to form a national emergency government. This will require creative and unconventional political measures.”
Eisenkot said that Israeli democracy is at a vulnerable moment and faces immense challenges, with Herzog citing threats of a potential Iranian attack, the need to move toward peace in Gaza, and negotiations with Lebanon and other neighbors.
“There is great urgency for a new leadership, a leadership that people can look in the eye and trust,” Eisenkot said.
His possible paths to power include trying to form a minority government with the backing of Arab parties on key issues, forming a coalition with ultra-orthodox parties that he and his allies have avoided in the past, or forming a unity government with Netanyahu. All three options face formidable obstacles.
NEGOTIATIONS MAY TAKE SIX WEEKS
Eisenkot said he would summon all parties that meet his core principles. Among them are recognizing Israel as a Jewish and democratic state; universal national service for all to strengthen the armed forces and expand its ranks, and recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization, as well as a commitment to destroy its military capacity and govern.
“I am convinced that it is possible and correct to form quickly a new government that commands broad support in the Knesset,” Eisenkot said, referring to Israel’s Parliament.
Eisenkot now has 28 days, plus a possible 14-day extension. If he fails, Netanyahu will likely have the chance to form a government. If he also fails, new elections could be called.
Herzog, who consulted with all parties, said Eisenkot received the “clear and unequivocal backing” of the majority of parliamentarians as to who has the best chance of forming the next government that will win the Knesset’s confidence.
Likud, Netanyahu’s party, won the most seats among individual parties, with 27 in the 120-seat Knesset, but Netanyahu’s broad religious-nationalist coalition won only 53 in total, short of the 61-seat majority in the 120-seat Parliament.
Yashar, Eisenkot’s party, emerged as the second largest party, with 21 seats, while his coalition — which spans four parties led by Jews from the center-left to the right — won only 48 seats. Two parties representing Israel’s Arab minority won a number of 19 seats, a record high.
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ULTRA-ORTHODOX PARTIES
Netanyahu called for a unity government of all Zionist parties to preserve a Jewish state, without indicating whether he would be willing to operate under Eisenkot’s leadership.
“That is the will of the people and the need of the moment,” he said in a statement, ruling out a coalition government with the Arabs — who represent 21% of Israel’s population.
What could make Eisenkot’s task even more difficult is the position of opposition leader Avigdor Lieberman, of the party “Israel, Our Home,” who dismissed a unity government with Netanyahu or a minority government backed by Arab parties.
But Lieberman has softened his stance regarding forming a coalition with ultra-orthodox Jewish parties, provided they agree to back a law obliging ultra-orthodox men to serve in the armed forces.
“Given the current reality, to avoid new elections and end the Netanyahu era, there is no other choice but to make hard decisions and resolve issues where flexibility is possible and common ground can be found,” Lieberman said.
