Eisenkot sets four terms for new Israeli government

Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot has outlined four specific conditions for forming a new government, centering on the recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization.

In a statement posted on X on Saturday, Eisenkot, who leads the Yashar party, said he is ready to work with any elected lawmaker who accepts his principles for a broad Zionist government.

The four principles include recognizing Israel as a Jewish, democratic, liberal, and egalitarian state. They also require upholding the values of the Declaration of Independence, introducing compulsory military or civilian national service for all citizens, and recognizing Hamas as a terrorist group with the commitment to dismantle its military and governing capabilities in Gaza.

Eisenkot stated that the door to the government he intends to establish is open to every elected official who accepts these principles. He called for an extraordinary effort to avoid another election and a prolonged political crisis.

The Yashar leader vowed to move swiftly to use the new Knesset majority against what he called the government of October 7. This refers to the Netanyahu administration and its handling of the failures surrounding the Hamas-led attack on Israel in 2023.

He claimed that a majority of Israeli voters, by more than half a million votes, rejected the outgoing government and draft evasion in favor of political change. Eisenkot pledged to introduce legislation establishing a state commission of enquiry into the 7 October failures, make national service compulsory for all Israelis, and repeal the controversial judicial overhaul laws passed by the outgoing government.

The recent election has produced a hung parliament, leaving neither side with the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-member Knesset. Anti-Netanyahu parties secured 67 seats, while the outgoing coalition holds 53. The opposition total includes 48 seats held by Zionist parties and 19 won by the two Arab-led parties, the Joint List and Ra'am.

Netanyahu’s Likud emerged as the largest party with 27 seats, while Eisenkot’s Yashar finished second with 21. The opposition’s numerical advantage does not automatically translate into a governing majority, particularly given the reluctance of several Jewish opposition leaders to formally cooperate with Arab parties. Eisenkot’s proposal seeks to bridge this gap by offering a clear framework for inclusion.

He said he would coordinate with partners to expand the coalition and implement the will of the voters to improve Israel’s internal and international situation. Eisenkot noted that he would provide support for military actions only if there are direct and immediate threats to Israel that cannot wait until the government is sworn in.

The opposition leader said he will act in the coming weeks to form a government with the widest possible national consensus. He stated that the war against enemies is not over and the war’s goals have not been achieved, requiring bold decisions as soon as possible.