Eisenkot seeks to replace Knesset speaker amid coalition talks

Gadi Eisenkot, who received the mandate to form Israel's next government, is pursuing the replacement of Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and negotiating with Haredi parties. Internal disagreements within the Change Bloc persist over coalition strategy.

Gadi Eisenkot received yesterday (Sunday) from President Yitzhak Herzog the mandate to form the next government, and now he faces three coalition options: a minority government of 48 MKs supported externally by Ra'am and the Joint List (19 seats); a government of the left (48) + United Torah Judaism (7) + Ra'am's support; or a unity government between Yashar! and Together (33) and Likud and the Religious Zionism (33). In each of the last options, Eisenkot may break a campaign promise – either to waive the strict conscription law and sit with the Haredim, or to waive the 'Only Not Bibi' law and sit with Likud. The author assesses that from Eisenkot's perspective, the preferred option is a government supported by the Arab parties, but he finds it hard to see his faction members supporting this. Attention is drawn to Naftali Bennett, who has been silent since the elections, and the author speculates that Bennett is waiting for others to fail so he can 'save Israel from further elections' and win the premiership. The article concludes with a note that the ball is in the left's court and the right must wait patiently.