Image copyrightReuters
Rafi Berg
A new session of Israel's Knesset (120-member parliament) began on the 10th, with its members taking the oath. Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the opposition centrist party Yashar, who was asked by the president to form a new coalition government after the general election held at the end of October, aims to oust interim Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Eisenkot, a former army chief of staff, was asked to form a cabinet by President Yitzhak Herzog because he was recommended to form a cabinet by more members of parliament than the incumbent, Netanyahu. However, not all MPs who supported Eisenkot want to join the coalition government.
The opposition bloc, made up of Yashar and three Jewish parties, won 48 seats in the October general election. Meanwhile, the ruling coalition, including Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party, won only 53 seats, falling short of a majority. Eisenkot now has 28 days to form a new government. After that, a 14-day extension may be granted.
Almost half of the members of Congress this session were not in the previous session. Furthermore, Arab political parties won a record number of seats.
Mr Netanyahu and Mr Eisenkot warned on the 10th, shortly after being sworn in, that it was dangerous to support the government led by the other.
"I would like to ask those who are thinking of establishing a government that includes supporters of terrorism and people who hate Israel, or a government that depends on such people," Netanyahu said. "Are you prepared to depend on those who aim to destroy the Jewish state?" He mentioned the possibility that the government led by Eisenkot would depend on support from Arab parties.
He also called for the establishment of a government of national unity as the only way to counter the threat posed by ``Iran, which has become a nuclear power.''
Mr. Eisenkot, on the other hand, harshly criticized Mr. Netanyahu's remarks.
"I sat and listened as the outgoing Prime Minister took advantage of national events to deliver delusional, divisive, hateful and disgraceful speeches," Eisenkot said. "Now I am even more convinced that he is not worthy to remain prime minister for even one more minute," he said.
The election was widely seen as a referendum on Mr. Netanyahu, but the lack of a clear winner will lead to a period of uncertainty about who will form the next government. Netanyahu will serve as interim prime minister until then, but the process to form a government could take days or months.
The most dramatic aspect of this election was the huge gains made by the two Arab factions, the United Arab List (Ra'am) and the Joint List. As a result of rapid turnout among Arab Israelis, both sides won a combined 19 seats.
Therefore, there is a possibility that an Arab party will hold the balance in the government, but Mr. Netanyahu has denied forming a coalition with Arab parties, and the three parties belonging to Mr. Eisenkot's camp have also said that they will not participate in a government formed in a coalition with an Arab party.
On the 5th, President Herzog instructed Mr. Eisenkot to work on forming a government.
Speaking at the presidential palace, Eisenkot called for the establishment of a "national emergency government." This was an implicit appeal to political parties to put aside their ideological differences and oust Mr. Netanyahu.
Eisenkot said this would require "creative and unconventional political measures."
He has laid out four conditions for joining his government: recognition of Israel as a Jewish state and a democracy; acceptance of the values of the Declaration of Independence; support for mandatory military service, national service, or community service for all, including communities currently exempt from military service; and recognition of the Gaza Strip militant group Hamas as a terrorist organization and a commitment to dismantle its military and governance capabilities.
But these four requirements could pose major hurdles for other parties seeking a coalition with Mr. Eisenkot.
In Israel, ultra-Orthodox Jewish men are currently exempt from military service if they dedicate themselves to religious studies. In this election, all parties in Eisenkot's camp advocated the abolition of this privilege. Meanwhile, the ultra-Orthodox parties United Torah Judaism (UTJ) and the Shas Party strongly oppose it. The two parties won a combined 13 seats.
Mr. Eisenkot's four requirements are also a topic of discussion for Arab political parties that emphasize the rights of Arab Israelis, who make up about 20% of Israel's population. Currently, the majority of Israel's Arab population is not required to serve in the military. Furthermore, neither Ra'am nor the Joint List publicly recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization.
But Arab parties are likely to help Mr. Eisenkot form a minority government. Ra'am, which won eight seats, has indicated its intention to join a coalition government led by Eisenkot. The Joint List, which won 11 seats, has offered support from outside parliament.
Even if Eisenkot were to accept such a deal, he would need to persuade other parties in his own camp to agree. Avigdor Liberman, leader of the right-wing Israel Home Party, which won seven seats, has so far refused to join a minority government that relies on Arab members.
On the other hand, ultra-Orthodox parties are also likely to demand significant concessions on compulsory military service in return for supporting the regime. This may be difficult for most parties in Eisenkot's camp to accept.
(English article Israel's new parliament sworn in as leaders compete to form government)
