Israeli President Isaac Herzog has decided to invite opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to form a new government.
According to a statement issued by the Israeli president’s office, the Israeli president will formally invite Eisenkot to form a government this evening, after which Eisenkot will have 28 days to form a government.
Former army chief Gadi Eisenkot is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strongest political rival.
Netanyahu, who has served as the longest-serving prime minister in Israel’s history, is still trying to stay in office after losing his religious and nationalist coalition’s majority in the October 27 elections, and his coalition still emerges as the largest bloc in parliament.
Earlier, the anti-Netanyahu bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot had refused to form an alliance with Arab parties that could give them a majority in the Knesset, but Arab leaders, angered by the policies of Netanyahu and his far-right allies, still nominated Eisenkot during long negotiations with President Isaac Herzog.
On the other hand, Benjamin Netanyahu has urged the parties in the opposition bloc to form a national government with the parties of his outgoing government coalition.
At the same time, he has said that a government formed with Arab parties would destroy the country. Netanyahu calls these parties “supporters of terrorists.”
Referring to Eisenkot, Netanyahu claimed that “there is someone who wants to swear in a government with the supporters of terrorists in a hurry next week.” Regarding the Arab parties, he added, “This is an attempt to form a government in the State of Israel with those who want to abolish the State of Israel itself.”
Netanyahu alleged that “a government that relies on Hamas supporters will not fight Hamas,” nor will it defend Israeli soldiers operating in Gaza and Lebanon.
He also expressed fears of civil war in Israel, warning that if a government supported by Arab parties is formed, the same violent riots witnessed in Europe in recent weeks will be repeated in Israel.
Netanyahu claimed that “with this type of government, Israel will not be able to exist.”
