Israel, Eisenkot receives appointment for new government: "Fragile moment for democracy"

Yesterday Gadi Eisenkot officially received from Herzog the task of forming a new government in Israel after the October 27 elections. In a moment considered crucial for the Jewish State, the leader of Yashar sent a reassuring message regarding his leadership: "Israel is in a moment of emergency, there are open war fronts, not all objectives have been achieved. We are in one of the most fragile moments that Israeli democracy has ever known. This is why there is great urgency for a new leadership that we can trust". Then the message to his opponents: "If the Likud and Religious Zionism (of Bezalel Smotrich) really believe that this is the moment for unity, I can't imagine a reason why they shouldn't support a government under my leadership and according to the principles I have presented", declared Eisenkot who now has 28 days to try.

The formation of the new government

For his part, Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister in office until the formation of a new government, in a video declaration called for a unity executive that includes all the parties of the national and Zionist camp. Excluding the participation of Arab parties (19 seats). The same veto was placed within the Change Bloc. From Avigdor Liberman who, with a sensational backtracking, opened up the discussion on the enlistment of ultra-Orthodox youth (and therefore religious parties), blocking the way to a minority government with Arab parties. Because, he explained, if we want to put an end to the 'Netanyahu era' and avoid new elections, we need to find common ground. In short, the future of the new government must not depend on the weight of the Arab factions. Liberman's hard-line stance and other disagreements among the coalition partners are so deep that Herzog spoke to Eisenkot over the weekend to seek clarification on how he intends to overcome them, Israeli political commentators said. Who, summarizing the internal conflicts of the Change Bloc, asked: "How does Eisenkot intend to form a stable coalition when Liberman excludes a government dependent on Arab parties, Naftali Bennett's party wants compulsory conscription for the ultra-Orthodox, religious parties oppose recruitment?", wrote the Jerusalem Post. In fact, Eisenkot emerged from the consultations strengthened, with the recommendations of 67 elected representatives, while Netanyahu obtained only 46. Therefore, it is precisely the substantial differences within the opposition alliance that are the greatest risk for a dramatic misstep. In the meantime, Netanyahu remains on the bench, but the situation is so complex that it pushes his opponents to be cautious in celebrating 'the end of Bibi's power'.

In-depth analysis

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