Israel has been in this movie before - and there is one lesson: the people chose unity

Zalman Shoval calls for the formation of a broad unity government following the 2026 election deadlock, warning against minority governments and repeat elections. He points to the 1984 precedent and addresses Gadi Eisenkot, urging a political decision.

Zalman Shoval, former Israeli ambassador to the US, calls for the formation of a broad unity government following the 2026 election results that left both blocs without a clear majority. He points to the 1984 precedent, when a national unity government was formed under Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Shamir, achieving important economic successes. Shoval warns against minority governments or repeat elections, arguing that the public expressed a desire for unity. He addresses Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Change Bloc, and offers him a choice between a senior coalition partnership or a divided opposition relying on the votes of the Arab factions. Shoval raises unsubstantiated suspicions about external funding for the Arab vote, relying on remarks by Election Committee Chairman Judge Noam Solberg.