Jerusalem: Former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot began the difficult work of forming a new government on Sunday. He reached out to allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while saying that Netanyahu had pushed Israel into a major national crisis, AFP reported.
Eisenkot, 66, is new to politics and has promised to bring Israelis together after years of deep division under Netanyahu. President Isaac Herzog formally gave him the task of forming a government, giving him 28 days to do so. However, Eisenkot’s group does not yet have a clear majority in parliament.
“We are in a state of emergency, approaching a point of no return for the State of Israel,” Eisenkot said at a ceremony at the president’s office. He wore a suit and tie instead of his usual black clothes.
“We must form a national emergency government. This will require creative and unconventional political steps.”
Eisenkot was born into a working-class family of Moroccan immigrants. If he becomes prime minister, he would be Israel’s first Sephardic prime minister. Sephardic Jews are largely descended from Jewish communities in the Middle East and North Africa. Israel has long been led mostly by Ashkenazi elites with European ties.
Netanyahu is Israel’s longest-serving prime minister and has led the country on and off for nearly 20 years. He has moved Israel strongly to the right and has led wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.
Both Eisenkot and Herzog said Israel is becoming more isolated under Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court.
In the United States, Israel’s most important ally, Democrats won big in Tuesday’s elections. They campaigned on limiting Israel’s actions after the destruction in Gaza and the unpopular war with Iran, which Netanyahu launched with President Donald Trump.
“We are in the midst of a devastating diplomatic crisis. Even our closest friends and strategic allies are saying their relationship with Israel must be reassessed,” Eisenkot said.
Eisenkot asked Netanyahu’s Likud Party and the far-right party of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to join his government. But he said they could join only if he, not Netanyahu, becomes prime minister.
“My door is open and my hand is extended, wholeheartedly and willingly, to anyone who understands the gravity of this moment,” he said.