Eisenkot sets conditions for coalition, pledges to use Knesset majority to oust Netan

In a lengthy statement released after his meeting with opposition leader Yair Lapid, Eisenkot outlined his plans for the next Knesset while seeking to build a broad coalition that could replace Netanyahu’s government after the Oct. 27 election.

Eisenkot said his immediate priorities would include establishing a state commission of inquiry, requiring all Israelis to perform some form of national service, increasing the number of people serving in the Israeli military, and improving benefits and recognition for military personnel. He also pledged to repeal legislation associated with the government’s controversial judicial overhaul.

“Don’t let anyone mislead you: in Israel, it is the Knesset that gives the government its vote of confidence, not the other way around,” Eisenkot wrote, emphasizing that it is the parliamentary majority, rather than the outgoing government, that would determine the country’s political direction.

Eisenkot reiterated four principles he had outlined before the elections as the basis for any future governing coalition. These include recognition of Israel as a Jewish, democratic, liberal and egalitarian state; commitment to the values ​​of Israel’s Declaration of Independence; compulsory military, national or civilian service for all Israeli citizens; and the recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization whose military and governmental capabilities in Gaza must be dismantled.

He said any lawmaker willing to endorse those principles could be considered a potential coalition partner, signaling his intent to build a government that extends beyond his immediate political allies.

“Based on these principles, I intend to establish a broad Zionist government committed to the national interest,” Eisenkot wrote. He said he would coordinate with his political partners and seek to expand their cooperation to realize voters’ wishes and improve Israel’s national and international position.

“The door to the government that we establish will be open to any elected official who accepts these principles and is ready to rise to the occasion,” he added.

Eisenkot also stressed the importance of avoiding new elections, arguing that high turnout and the challenges facing Israel require a concerted effort to avoid another protracted political crisis.

“On October 27, the public had their say,” he wrote. “The composition of the next Israeli government must be determined solely by Israeli citizens, without outside interference or manipulation. It is now our responsibility as elected representatives to turn the voters’ decision into reality.”

“Until the new government is formed, I will support military action only in response to direct and immediate threats against Israel, which cannot wait for the government to be sworn in,” he wrote.

He warned that the coming weeks would be politically turbulent, with intense negotiations and competing demands surrounding efforts to form a government.

“We are facing weeks that will be busy, complicated and filled with political manipulation and lies,” Eisenkot said, adding that he intended to pursue his goals with determination, discretion and creativity.

Behind the scenes, Eisenkot is working to consolidate support among parties that could form the basis of a new coalition. A source close to the Yashar! The president told Ynet on Saturday evening that he had strengthened ties with his natural political partners since the announcement of the election results.

According to a source in Netanyahu’s opposition bloc, Eisenkot met with party leaders in an effort to get their recommendations to the president, who must choose a lawmaker to try to form the next government. The source said the meetings were aimed at boosting Eisenkot’s chances of securing the mandate first.

His meeting with Lapid on Saturday is part of these efforts. In a subsequent joint statement, the two politicians said they discussed the election results and ways to coordinate their next steps.

“The two men discussed the election results and coordinated measures based on their shared commitment to meeting the wishes of voters,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, Yashar! The party accused Likud of trying to persuade its members to switch sides and support Netanyahu, a move that could shift the balance of power in the next Knesset. With neither political bloc holding a clear majority, even a small number of lawmakers switching allegiances could prove decisive in determining who forms the next government.

In a statement Saturday evening, Yashar! alleged that figures associated with Likud contacted its members, naming Education Minister Yoav Kisch, Almog Cohen and Yaakov Bardugo, a Netanyahu confidant and new Likud lawmaker, among those making the calls. The party did not disclose the content of the conversations or indicate whether any political offers had been made.

“In recent hours, there has been total panic within Likud, including phone calls to Yashar! members from ministers and potential Knesset candidates, including Almog Cohen, Yoav Kisch, Yaakov Bardugo and others,” the party said.

“The entire public can see how shaken you are by your defeat. We are determined to implement the voters’ decision and establish a Zionist government that will serve all Israelis,” the statement continued.