Netanyahu decides to abandon attempt to form government – and pushes for elections

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to abandon efforts to form a government and push for new elections, according to sources familiar with the matter. The decision came after Netanyahu concluded that Gadi Eisenkot would not agree to a unity government.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided for now to abandon efforts to form a government and push for new elections, according to sources familiar with the matter. The decision applies both to the possibility of a unity government and to a government with Avigdor Lieberman and Naftali Bennett. The sources say the decision was made after Netanyahu concluded that Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot would not agree to join a unity government. According to them, Eisenkot publicizes every attempt to contact him through intermediaries, and Netanyahu's camp sees further overtures as futile. Netanyahu's planned line is a public campaign against forming a government reliant on the Arab factions, delegitimizing it. The sources assess that security developments and a Shin Bet investigation could aid the move, but emphasize that Netanyahu has no control over the content or timing of these developments.