Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party has cancelled a scheduled meeting with Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party to discuss coalition negotiations, after the Israeli prime minister delivered a speech at the swearing-in of the new Knesset that Eisenkot described as “delusional, divisive, hateful and disgraceful”.
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Eisenkot → cancel → that
The cancellation came a day after Netanyahu called on opposition leaders to join a national unity government, arguing that Israel needed a united front in the face of the Iranian nuclear threat.
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Israel → come → threat
In his address to parliament on Tuesday, he renewed that appeal but also criticised opposition leaders for considering a government supported by Arab-majority parties.
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he → renew → parties
Eisenkot, who has been tasked with forming Israel’s next government, said Netanyahu’s remarks had reinforced his belief that the outgoing prime minister was unfit to remain in office.
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minister → task → office
“I sat and listened to the outgoing prime minister’s delusional, divisive, hateful and disgraceful speech, in which he abused a state occasion at the swearing-in of the 26th Knesset.
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he → sit → Knesset
I became even more convinced that he is unfit to remain in office for even one more minute,” Eisenkot wrote on X.
“We must act urgently to establish a national emergency government.
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We → become → government
His continued rule is dividing Israel and endangering its security,” he added, calling on opposition leaders Yair Lapid, Yair Golan, Avigdor Liberman and Naftali Bennett to take responsibility.
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he → continue → responsibility
Yashar cancels meeting with Likud
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Yashar → cancel → Likud
Yashar had earlier announced that its negotiating team was due to meet Likud representatives on Wednesday as part of efforts to form the next government.
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team → announce → government
“Following Yashar's appeal to all Knesset factions to conduct sincere and genuine negotiations based on the four principles set out by Yashar for forming a government, a negotiation meeting was scheduled for tomorrow between the Eisenkot team and Likud,” the party said in a statement, according to The Jerusalem Post.
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party → follow → Post
However, it said Eisenkot had instructed his team to cancel the meeting following Netanyahu’s speech and conduct during the Knesset swearing-in ceremony.
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Eisenkot → say → ceremony
The party accused Netanyahu of choosing political survival over national unity, saying his address was another indication that he did not want to bring Israelis together.
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he → accuse → Israelis
“As always, when faced with a choice between the gravity of the moment and the resilience of Israeli society on one hand, and his political survival on the other, Netanyahu will always choose himself.
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Netanyahu → face → himself
At any cost,” the statement said.
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statement → say → cost
Netanyahu attacks possible coalition with Arab parties
Netanyahu, meanwhile, has continued to push for a unity government, saying opposition parties should set aside their differences in view of the security challenges facing Israel.
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parties → attack → Israel
During his speech, he questioned whether Jewish opposition leaders were prepared to depend on Arab politicians to form a government.
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leaders → question → government
“I ask you: Are you prepared to be dependent on those whose goal is the destruction of the Jewish state?” he said, according to news agency AP.
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he → ask → AP
He also took to X to criticise the possibility of a government supported by Ra’am and the Joint List, calling the proposed arrangement “dangerous”.
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He → take → arrangement
It is forbidden to form a dangerous government with the terror supporters of Ra’am and the Joint List!” Netanyahu wrote.
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Netanyahu → forbid → Ra’am
The Likud party also criticised Yashar’s decision to cancel the meeting.
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party → criticise → meeting
It said Netanyahu would “turn over every stone to achieve national unity” and remained willing to meet representatives of any faction seeking unity.
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Netanyahu → say → unity
Likud described the cancellation as “puzzling”, arguing that Eisenkot and other opposition parties were continuing negotiations with Arab parties even as they called off talks with Netanyahu’s party.
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they → describe → party
The criticism followed the departure of Arab lawmakers during the national anthem at the Knesset swearing-in ceremony, as reported by The Jerusalem Post.
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criticism → follow → Post
Eisenkot seeks to form government as new Knesset begins work
The dispute comes as Eisenkot works to assemble a coalition after receiving the mandate to form Israel’s next government from President Isaac Herzog.
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Eisenkot → seek → Herzog
His bloc secured recommendations from representatives of 67 lawmakers, including support from Ra’am and the Joint List.
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bloc → secure → Ra’am
The election left the 120-member Knesset without a clear majority.
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election → leave → majority
Netanyahu’s Likud-led faction secured 53 seats, while Eisenkot’s Yashar alliance won 48.
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alliance → lead → 48
A government needs the support of at least 61 lawmakers to command a majority.
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government → need → majority
Eisenkot has up to six weeks to form a government that would end Netanyahu’s tenure as Israel’s longest-serving prime minister.
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that → have → minister
If he fails, Herzog is expected to give Netanyahu another opportunity to form an administration.
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Herzog → fail → administration
Meanwhile, Eisenkot’s bloc has begun advancing its legislative agenda in the new parliament.
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bloc → begin → parliament
It has introduced bills seeking a government-led inquiry into Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks, term limits for the prime minister and the reversal of changes made by Netanyahu’s outgoing government to limit the judiciary’s powers.
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It → introduce → powers
The opposition has also initiated the process to replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, who is backed by Netanyahu.
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who → initiate → Netanyahu
It has nominated Matan Kahana, a senior member of Yashar, for the position.
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It → nominate → position
Netanyahu and his Cabinet remain in office during the transition, even as the newly sworn-in Knesset begins legislative work.
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Knesset → remain → work
As caretaker prime minister, Netanyahu retains authority over national security and the military, while facing court-imposed limits on some of his powers.
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Netanyahu → retain → powers
The Aporia
