Herzog Clashes with Likud Officials During President Residence Consultations
Israeli President Isaac Herzog hosted Likud consultations, clashing with Miri Regev over coalition talks and foreign funding investigations, while Likud urged opposition leaders to join a broad Zionist government.
During consultations at the President's Residence on Thursday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog hosted the Likud faction delegation, leading to a heated exchange with outgoing Transportation Minister Miri Regev over foreign funding suspicions and coalition negotiations. Regev urged the president to ensure a thorough investigation into alleged foreign funding and election manipulation, claiming that the Yashar party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, had dropped one of its four conditions for joining a coalition.
Yashar Responds and President Intervenes
The Yashar party swiftly rejected Regev's claims on social media, accusing the transport minister of dishonesty. According to Yashar, former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen had presented all four foundational principles to President Herzog just half an hour earlier. President Herzog himself rebuked Regev during the meeting, criticizing Likud's rhetoric toward the opposition. The president noted that calls for unity are inconsistent with labeling political opponents a disaster or questioning their loyalty, urging all sides to maintain proportion and mutual respect.
Likud Calls for a Broad Zionist Government
Following the meeting, Likud representatives addressed the press, emphasizing the need for a stable national government amid severe regional security challenges. Minister of Education Yoav Kisch appealed to the leaders of the change bloc to drop boycotts against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and join a broad Zionist coalition. Kisch warned against political alliances that include anti-Zionist factions and stressed that national unity is vital to counter external threats, including Iran and its proxies.
