Update: Netanyahu Reportedly Prefers Repeat Election Over Unity Government, Israeli Media Say
The reports, attributed to unnamed sources, came the same day Israel's president urged leaders to prevent another vote, and as rival Gadi Eisenkot met Avigdor Liberman.
Learn more ›JERUSALEM, Israel —
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly decided against unity government talks and is planning for repeat elections, according to Hebrew media reports summarized Sunday, Nov. 1, by All Israel News. The reports reached the public just days after the Oct. 27 vote left neither camp with a working majority.
Learn more ›The reported decision would rule out a coalition with Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party, Naftali Bennett's B'Yachad or Avigdor Liberman's Yisrael Beytenu. Channel 14, citing unnamed “sources involved,” said Netanyahu concluded Eisenkot would likely refuse to join a government with Netanyahu as prime minister, even under a rotation deal. The channel also claimed Eisenkot turned down approaches made through intermediaries and that Netanyahu has prepared messages for his base ahead of another campaign.
The reports differ from what a Netanyahu ally has said publicly. Dimona Mayor Benny Biton told Kan Reshet Bet that “Benjamin Netanyahu wants unity,” The Times of Israel reported.
Learn more ›President Isaac Herzog, speaking at a memorial for Chaim Weizmann, Israel's first president, said the president's residence would try to help leaders find “creative solutions to prevent another election,” according to All Israel News. Herzog said he will begin consultations after he receives the official results from Central Elections Committee Chairman Noam Sohlberg on Wednesday.
On the other side, Eisenkot met Liberman earlier on Sunday despite earlier reports that Liberman would not meet him, and was set to meet Yair Lapid, B'Yachad's No. 2, that evening, All Israel News said, citing Hebrew media. In a statement Saturday evening, Eisenkot listed principles for the government he hopes to form, including recognizing Israel as a Jewish, democratic, liberal and egalitarian state, universal national service, declaring Hamas a terrorist organization and committing to remove Hamas from Gaza. “The door to the government we form will be open to any elected official who accepts these principles,” he said.
Learn more ›The bloc opposed to Netanyahu has its own disagreement, over who should replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana when the new Knesset is sworn in. Israel Hayom reported that Eisenkot wants a Yashar member in the post, while Bennett and Lapid want Lapid, which would keep some influence with the opposition if Eisenkot ended up joining a Netanyahu-led government. Liberman has said he does not want the job. Yashar also said several right-wing lawmakers had contacted its side about a possible unity government; several of those politicians later denied discussing coalition deals, saying they were only offering congratulations.
What we don't know yet: Whether Netanyahu has in fact decided on a new election. The Channel 14 account rests on unnamed sources, All Israel News reported it secondhand, and Watchman News could not confirm it independently. It is also not known whom Herzog will choose to form a government, or whether Eisenkot can assemble a majority.
