Eisenkot says he will not join Netanyahu government despite Trump push

Gadi Eisenkot stated on Monday that he would decline a role in a government led by Benjamin Netanyahu, even if Donald Trump personally requested his participation.

The Yashar party chairman made these remarks during a closed-door meeting, according to reports from the public broadcaster KAN. Sources familiar with the discussion said Eisenkot drew a sharp line between his political stance and his diplomatic protocol. He said he would accept an invitation to meet the US President out of respect, while maintaining that the decision to form a government rests with Israeli leaders. Eisenkot expressed opposition to American involvement in domestic political affairs, insisting that a meeting in Washington should remain separate from the question of joining Netanyahu’s cabinet.

This position emerges amid discussions about a potential unity government following recent elections. Last week, The Jerusalem Post reported that Trump representatives had talked with Israeli officials about a coalition involving both Netanyahu and Eisenkot. A Likud official told The Washington Post that the US President prefers a government that is stable, reliable, and can be established quickly. The same report noted that Netanyahu told US officials he views Eisenkot as his strongest partner in the event of renewed conflict with Iran. Netanyahu indicated that such a partnership would lead him to pursue a more moderate coalition.

Within the opposition camp, Naftali Bennett, Yair Golan, and Avigdor Liberman have each said they will recommend Eisenkot to President Isaac Herzog for the mandate to form a government. These three leaders were scheduled to meet with Eisenkot and outgoing opposition leader Yair Lapid on Tuesday, November 3. The gathering marks their first joint meeting since the election.

No political bloc won a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Netanyahu’s bloc holds 53 seats, while the opposition parties hold 48. Arab parties won the remaining 19 seats, which could raise the number of lawmakers supporting Eisenkot to 67 if they agree to back him.

Disagreements remain over how to build a workable government. Opposition parties are divided on relying on support from Arab parties. Liberman has rejected any government that depends on those parties, while also ruling out a unity coalition with Netanyahu.