Eisenkot dismisses Netanyahu's unity government appeal as 'media stunt'

Eisenkot, who leads the Yashar party and is tasked with forming the next government, said negotiating teams from his party and Netanyahu's Likud were scheduled to meet Sunday.

In a statement on US social media platform X, Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of calling for national unity while continuing to sow division and incite against political opponents.

He pointed to Netanyahu's speech at the opening of the new Knesset as an example.

Eisenkot said Likud could join a national emergency government under his leadership only if it accepted his stated principles and distanced itself from extremist political forces.

He also accused Netanyahu of attempting to obstruct the formation of a new government and efforts to replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, a Likud member.

Eisenkot said Tuesday's vote on his candidate for Knesset speaker, Matan Kahana, would test whether Likud and the Religious Zionism party were serious about a political partnership.

He urged both parties to support Kahana's candidacy.

Netanyahu urges talks without preconditions

Netanyahu issued a video statement on Saturday, urging Eisenkot to enter coalition negotiations "without preconditions" following what he described as an important conversation between them Thursday.

He called for including all parties that supported Israel's existence as a state for the Jewish people.

Netanyahu argued that only a broad government could confront Iran, which he claimed was seeking to revive its nuclear program.

He also urged political leaders to set aside their disputes and reach agreements on security and military conscription.

Netanyahu's appeal came four days after he attacked Eisenkot's bloc in the Knesset, accusing it of seeking a fragile and dangerous government dependent on Arab parties.

He described those parties as "supporters of terrorism" and "haters of Israel."

Eisenkot condemned the speech as hateful.

Government formation efforts

Israeli President Isaac Herzog formally tasked Eisenkot with forming a government on Nov. 8 after he secured recommendations from 67 of the Knesset's 120 members.

Netanyahu received recommendations from 46 lawmakers.

Eisenkot has an initial 28 days to form a government, with the possibility of a 14-day extension.