Jerusalem (EFE).- Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party tasked with forming Israel’s next government, canceled a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party on Tuesday, citing Netanyahu’s speech during the opening session of the Knesset.
According to a statement from Yashar obtained by EFE, Eisenkot made the decision in response to «the outgoing prime minister’s divisive speech and his disgraceful conduct at the Knesset swearing-in ceremony, which dishonored what remains of statesmanship under Netanyahu’s rule.»
«Tonight, the outgoing prime minister lashed out at Israeli citizens this evening in what became yet another sad reminder, for anyone who needed further proof: Netanyahu does not want unity,» the statement added.
«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. At any cost,» the party stated, adding that it will continue working toward national unity and solidarity, which it views as core components of Israel’s national security.
In response, Likud asserted that Netanyahu will «turn over every stone to achieve national unity» and that the party remains ready to meet with representatives of any faction seeking unity.
Likud stated that Netanyahu maintained his position against cooperating with supporters of terrorism or with those who walked out during the singing of HaTikvah, referring to the walkout by several Arab lawmakers during the national anthem.
The party added that it found it “puzzling” that talks with Likud were canceled while outreach to those same groups continued, reiterating that Netanyahu remained committed to forming a broad unity government.
Meanwhile, the Joint List, an Arab-Jewish left-wing coalition that emerged as the fourth-largest parliamentary force after the elections, condemned Netanyahu’s speech as «deranged, inciting and racist,» pledging to oust him from power as quickly as possible.
The meeting between the negotiation teams had originally been scheduled after Yashar! invited all parliamentary factions to engage in talks based on four key principles established by the party for coalition building.
Shortly before the cancellation, Eisenkot remarked that Netanyahu’s «delusional, divisive, hateful, and disgraceful» address further convinced him that Netanyahu is unfit to remain in office, calling for the urgent establishment of a national emergency government.
Addressing the plenum, Netanyahu called for a national unity government to counter the threat from Iran, while questioning the opposition’s willingness to govern alongside Arab parties, whom he accused of «supporting terrorism» and labeled a «Trojan horse» for Iran and its allied armed groups.
President Isaac Herzog tasked Eisenkot on Sunday with forming a government, giving him 28 days with a potential 14-day extension. To secure a 61-seat parliamentary majority, the opposition bloc must either reach an agreement with factions in Netanyahu’s block or secure support from the two Arab parties, the Joint List and Ra’am, which hold a combined 19 seats. EFE
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