Israel’s caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday (November 14, 2026) reiterated his calls for a national unity government with his opponent Gadi Eisenkot, who in turn dismissed the appeal as a ruse.
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who → reiterate → ruse
The latest exchange comes as Mr,. Eisenkot is in the midst of negotiations to form a government, after he was tapped for the post of premier on Sunday (November 15, 2026).
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he → come → Sunday
A meeting with Mr. Eisenkot on Thursday (November 13, 2026) “only strengthened the conviction that it is essential to form a national unity government” to guarantee Israel’s security, Mrx. Netanyahu said in a video statement, adding that such a government could “eliminate the Iranian threat once and for all”.
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government → strengthen → all
He said this government would be made up of parties that recognise Israel “as a state for the Jewish people”.
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that → say → people
It would address security challenges, he added, most notably Iran which he claimed would “not hesitate to use nuclear weapons against us”.
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he → address → us
The outgoing Prime Minister warned against Mr. Eisenkot’s plan to form a minority government, presented as a “national emergency government”.
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Minister → warn → government
Such a plan would see the 48 lawmakers in Mr. Eisenkot’s bloc vote in favour of his government, against the 46 Netanyahu backers.
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lawmakers → see → backers
The 26 other members of parliament, from Arab and ultra-Orthodox parties, could abstain, allowing the government to be approved without an absolute majority in the Knesset, which has 120 seats.
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which → abstain → seats
“Instead of trying to form a weak and dangerous government... let’s meet in one room, without preconditions, put aside all our disagreements and all the boycotts, and reach agreements for the security and the future of the state,” Mr Netanyahu urged.
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Netanyahu → try → state
Minutes later, Mr. Eisenkot responded by saying Mr. Netanyahu “knows he lost the election”, accusing him of playing “tricks” by appealing for a unity government.
“Netanyahu is calling for negotiations while they are already underway; he claims to want unity but... sows division and stokes tensions as if there were no tomorrow,” the former army chief said, adding that “these tricks don’t work on me”.
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tricks → respond → me
‘Break with extremists’
Mr. Eisenkot was tapped on Sunday (November 15, 2026) to form a new government within 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension.
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Eisenkot → break → extension
Negotiations are expected to be difficult, especially as Netanyahu has waged a campaign to discredit Arab-Israeli parties, which gained a record number of seats in the election.
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which → expect → election
Mr. Netanyahu’s proposed unity government would be made up of key Jewish parties ranging from the centre to the right, while excluding the Arab parties.
Mr. Eisenkot has indicated he would be open to forming a government with members of Mr. Netanyahu’s Likud party, as well as outgoing Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism, provided their commitment to unity is “sincere”.
But a unity government with Mr. Netanyahu himself remains unlikely, particularly after Mr. Eisenkot denounced his “racist” campaign against Arab parties on Friday.
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Eisenkot → propose → Friday
Mr. Eisenkot on Saturday (November 14, 2026) reiterated his calls for a “break with the extremists”, notably supporters of far-right minister Itamar Ben Gvir, as a condition for any participation in a government under his leadership.
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Eisenkot → reiterate → leadership
Another point of contention is the election on Tuesday (November 17, 2026) of the Speaker of the Knesset, a post currently held by Amir Ohana, a close Mr. Netanyahu ally.
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point → hold → Ohana
The opposition has put forward Matan Kahana, a former officer in the Israeli army who was fifth on Gadi Eisenkot’s list, to replace him.
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who → put → him
“If they (Likud and its allies) are truly seeking a sincere political partnership, as they claim, they must allow the democratic process to unfold normally... and instruct their members of parliament to support the appointment of Matan Kahana,” Mr. Eisenkot said.
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Eisenkot → seek → Kahana
The Aporia
