BeYachad Backs Gadi Eisenkot for Prime Minister as Coalition Talks Begin

Five days after the parliamentary elections, the "BeYachad" party announced that following instructions from party leader Naftali Bennett, the faction will recommend Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the "Yashar!" party, to President Isaac Herzog as candidate for prime minister.

"Former Prime Minister Bennett made it clear throughout the election campaign that he would respect the voters' decision, and that is what he is doing," the party statement read. Bennett also conveyed a message to his partners in the change bloc, stating, "Bring about a government—and I am in." Meanwhile, Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman expressed reservations about committing to recommend Eisenkot. Eisenkot is initiating a meeting this week with bloc leaders to coordinate moves.

Eisenkot's current preference is to form a coalition with the ultra-Orthodox parties, an option he favors over relying on Arab parties or forming a government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In response, Likud warned that if United Torah Judaism joins Eisenkot, they will be excluded from future governments.

President Isaac Herzog addressed the political deadlock during a memorial address for Israel's first president, Chaim Weizmann. "As we all know, during an election campaign candidates naturally climb high trees," Herzog said. "But the elections are over. The election results are an existing reality. This is the time to tell all leaders: stop climbing the trees and confront this reality."

Herzog added that on Wednesday he will officially receive the election results from Supreme Court Deputy President Noam Solberg and begin consultations at the President's Residence. Meanwhile, The Democrats chairman Yair Golan called for the swift establishment of an alternative government, citing growing risks of a military escalation with Iran and warning that Netanyahu lacks public trust for such a campaign.