Without a homogeneous majority that translates into a Government for the moment after the elections exactly two weeks ago, the 26th Knesset in the history of Israel began this Tuesday in a solemn and at some moments very tense manner under the great doubt about its duration. Several months or the full four years as the interim Government did for the first time since 1988? That year, Benjamin Netanyahu debuted as a deputy without imagining that almost 40 years later he would begin his fifteenth term in Parliament in Jerusalem.
In the festive formal ceremony minutes after the 120 deputies were sworn in (including 46 new ones), Netanyahu harshly attacked the two Arab parties in the Knesset and a possible dependence on their votes by a new Government. "I listened to the delirious, divisive, hate-filled and shameful speech of the outgoing prime minister, who abused a state event at the inauguration of the 26th Knesset. I became even more convinced that he is not fit to continue even one more minute in office. The continuation of his government divides Israel and endangers its security," reacted centrist leader Gadi Eisenkot, who this Sunday was tasked with forming a government.
After losing the majority in the elections, and if he does not reach a unity government pact with Eisenkot under his command, Netanyahu wants the Knesset to be dissolved in the coming months, since this would mean that his rival has failed in the task entrusted to him by President Isaac Herzog. Although the majority (67) in Parliament is against the continuity of the prime minister, the centrist leader at the head of the Yashar! It is not easy for him to put together a government structure due to red lines defined in his bloc during the electoral campaign.
Eisenkot spoke with the other three parties of the so-called "change bloc" to first agree on movements in Parliament such as the election next week of its president (Matan Kahana instead of Amir Ohana of the Likud) or appointments to influential commissions in the functioning of Parliament.
In their bloc they announced several law proposals, such as the creation of the state commission of investigation into the enormous flaws in the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023 or to annul some promoted by the Netanyahu Government regarding the judicial establishment.
Eisenkot explores the least bad ways to sew a coalition. "I am committed to creating a national emergency Government. We will work for all Israelis, whether those who voted for us or those who did not," he stated, recalling his four principles that anyone who wants to be part of his Executive should accept: "Israel is a Jewish, democratic, liberal and egalitarian State. Deep commitment to the values of the Declaration of Independence as our compass. Military, national or civil service for all citizens, we do not renounce this flag. Finally, achieve a declared objective of the war that has not yet been accomplished, such as the destruction of the armed force and government of Hamas."
Eisenkot has clarified that he will not give up any of the flags, but the reality is that some conflict with parliamentary arithmetic. His bloc only has 48 seats.
His first option is to try a Government with an ultra-Orthodox party that may require a setback in his demand on the recruitment of young people from the Haredi sector. The Torah Judaism party could leave Netanyahu's bloc due to its inability to form a government and the unrest of its members who demand to resolve the military exemption of its young people and ensure that they are not detained for ignoring the army's calls to perform military service.
Eisenkot's second option is a minority government with the support or abstention of the two Arab parties that, with 19 seats, achieved unprecedented success in the elections on October 27. One of his partners, Avigdor Lieberman, maintains a veto on this possibility. On the other hand, if Netanyahu remains in power, they would not fulfill their main promise: ending his government.
Another broken promise would be a pact with Netanyahu. Eisenkot would only accept it if it was a rotation agreement in which he would be the first head of government and would be the only option to avoid new elections. This scenario moved away today after Netanyahu's tough speech in which he paradoxically called for a "Government of national unity."
Netanyahu's criticism
In the festive ceremony in the Chagall Room in Parliament that does not usually include political content, the interim prime minister raised the tone against an eventual Eisenkot government that depends on the two Arab parties Raam and the Joint List. According to him, "they are supporters of terrorism who hate Israel and want its destruction and the creation of the Palestinian State in its ruins." Noting that Iran has not given up its plan to "destroy Israel," he said that "it is impossible to confront threats with a minority government that includes or depends on supporters of terror."
Netanyahu demanded to investigate suspicions of foreign interference in the elections in reference to the massive vote in the Arab sector. The leader of the center-left party, Yair Golan, left the room in protest at the speech while the former prime minister and leader of Juntos, Naftali Bennett, interrupted him by asking him about his advisors being investigated for collecting money from Qatar.
"They must do everything possible to avoid new elections. The people who voted for you are thirsty for routine, security and calm. Eager to see the extended hand that brings unity in the people and hope," said President Isaac Herzog in the opening speech of the first parliament formed after 7-O. The Hamas attack is present, for example, through some deputies whose children were murdered on that day. Almost all legislators stood to applaud the swearing-in of Elisha Madan (Likud). This 47-year-old reservist lost his legs to an explosive during the offensive in the Gaza Strip.
