Netanyahu's plan: A government with Eisenkot – without dependence on the ultra-Orthodox

Benjamin Netanyahu is advancing the idea of a broad national unity government with former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, which would free him from dependence on the ultra-Orthodox parties and Itamar Ben Gvir. The move stems from the conscription law crisis, where the ultra-Orthodox are drawing red lines and Netanyahu is seeking a coalition alternative. Eisenkot, a former chief of staff, is seen as a convenient partner due to his security background, but there is no evidence of an agreement between them.

Benjamin Netanyahu is advancing the idea of a broad national unity government with Gadi Eisenkot, a former IDF chief of staff, which would free him from dependence on the ultra-Orthodox parties and Itamar Ben Gvir. The move stems from the conscription law crisis: Netanyahu has declared his intention to pass a "full conscription law that meets the needs of the IDF," while United Torah Judaism has drawn a red line and MK Yaakov Asher clarified that the party will not support any government if the status of yeshiva students is not regulated. A partnership with Eisenkot would reduce Netanyahu's dependence on the ultra-Orthodox and neutralize Ben Gvir's leverage, whose party fears being left out. The article notes that Netanyahu has a history of forming broad governments: in 2009 with Ehud Barak and Labor, in 2013 with Lapid and Livni while leaving the ultra-Orthodox out, in 2020 in rotation with Gantz, and in 2023 with Gantz in an emergency government. However, there is no evidence of an agreement between Netanyahu and Eisenkot, and it is uncertain whether Eisenkot will agree. The article concludes that the big question of the elections is not whether Netanyahu will have 61 seats, but what he will do with them.