President Isaac Herzog announced Saturday evening that he would task Yashar! Chairman Gadi Eisenkot with forming Israel's next government, following consultations with the parties elected to the Knesset.
Eisenkot's initial mandate will expire on Dec. 6. If he requests an extension, the expected deadline will be Dec. 20.
"This is the time to establish a national emergency government. I will do everything to ensure we are worthy of the responsibility," Eisenkot said in response.
During the consultations, parties representing 67 MKs recommended Eisenkot for prime minister, while parties holding 46 seats endorsed Prime Minister and Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu. United Torah Judaism declined to recommend either candidate.
Before reaching his decision, Herzog met separately with Eisenkot and Netanyahu.
'A time for unity'
Shortly before the president announced his decision, Netanyahu called for unity in his second recorded video statement since Election Day.
"Next week, some are planning to hastily swear in a government with supporters of terrorism. This is a time for unity," Netanyahu said.
"This is a time for unity," Netanyahu said at the beginning of his statement. "You know that I called for it during the election campaign and repeated that call afterward. It is what the people want, and it is what this moment demands. Because as early as next week, some are planning to hastily swear in a government with supporters of terrorism. To establish a government with those who seek to destroy the State of Israel. With those who want to establish a Palestinian state on its ruins."
Eisenkot's Yashar! party did not rule out a unity government but insisted that any such arrangement would have to adhere to its four core principles.
"Outgoing Prime Minister Netanyahu has delivered a hysterical speech. The man who divided, polarized and sowed discord in Israeli society is heard uttering the word 'unity' only when he realizes his days in office are numbered.
"Unity is an important value for Israel, but Netanyahu has worked systematically and relentlessly against it, even during the most difficult war in our history. Netanyahu formed unity and emergency governments and invariably worked to undermine them from within. He has never honored an agreement he signed with political partners, and he formed the government of October 7 with Itamar Ben-Gvir as a senior minister, in violation of his own promise."
'Cynical exploitation'
"As the prime minister responsible for the failure of October 7, who failed to dismantle Hamas' rule and excelled only at tearing Israeli society apart, he continues to sow destruction this evening through the cynical exploitation of a value he has always worked against: unity.
"The national emergency government that Gadi Eisenkot will establish will include only parties and MKs who support Yashar!'s four principles, including recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization and a commitment to destroying its military and governing capabilities. Netanyahu, who failed to achieve that goal, is certainly in no position to lecture anyone about a commitment to destroying Hamas.
"To the point: If Likud and its allies are suddenly interested in 'unity' and a broad government, they are more than welcome to publicly announce that they are severing their alliance with the extremists, accepting Gadi Eisenkot's four principles and agreeing to join a government led by Prime Minister Eisenkot. Until then, this is nothing more than a pathetic political spin."
