Israel: Netanyahu promotes unity government at Eisenkot

Israel unity government after the election? Netanyahu is promoting Eisenkot As of: November 15, 2026 • 9:23 p.m

Eisenkot or Netanyahu? The parliamentary election in Israel did not bring a clear answer. Opposition politician Eisenkot is currently looking for partners for a coalition. Prime Minister Netanyahu has his own ideas.

A week of parliamentary power decisions is approaching in Israel. Who will take the presidency of Parliament? Who controls the important security and finance committees? Can the Gadi Eisenkot camp begin to undo key parts of Netanyahu's judicial reform? While Eisenkot, who was given the task of forming a government, is trying to get a majority in the Knesset, Netanyahu is strikingly conciliatory.

In a video message over the weekend, Netanyahu addressed his opponent directly:

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This unity government would be a balancing act. Netanyahu's Likud party would join forces with Eisenkot's former opposition camp. Does Netanyahu really want to reconcile with his opponent? Eisenkot doesn't believe that.

On Nevertheless, teams from Likud and Eisenkot's Yashar party came together on Sunday evening. According to the media, Likud MP Elisha Madan is also said to have taken part. Since the weekend he has been campaigning for a unity government with a protest tent in front of the Knesset.

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Eisenkot sets different accents. At an event in Sde Boker in the Negev Desert, at the final resting place of Israel's founder David Ben Gurion, he said: A unity government should not only bring together a mathematical majority of 61 or 66 seats. According to Eisenkot, common values ​​are crucial:

"The question is what common values ​​a unity government should advance - in education, in mutual responsibility, in military service and in public service. It's about finding out what unites the citizens of Israel."

Eisenkot looks for similarities in content. But there are worlds between his opposition movement and the previous right-wing government coalition.

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Eisenkot came into office with the promise of a change of government, the coming to terms with October 7, 2023, and the demand for general conscription.

The power struggle continues this week on two stages: at the negotiating table and in parliament. Eisenkot's camp is trying to take over important key positions there. If the change at the top of the Knesset succeeds on Tuesday, the camp could reverse key parts of Netanyahu's judicial reform as early as Wednesday. Whether there will then be a joint government remains to be seen.

This topic in the program: tagesschau.de | Power struggle in Israel: unity government or political bluff? | 11/15/2026 | 8:38 p.m