Yashar party leader Eisenkot refuses to join Netanyahu's government even at Trump's request

Refusal even with Trump's intervention

Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot has ruled out joining a government led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — even if US President Donald Trump were to ask him to do so. This was reported by Israel's public broadcaster KAN, citing unnamed sources; the report was relayed by the Anadolu agency. According to the broadcaster, the statement was made at a recent closed-door meeting: 'I will not sit in a government headed by Netanyahu,' KAN quoted him as saying. Noting a possible invitation from Trump, Eisenkot, according to the source, added that he would respect the president and come to a meeting, but would stress that this concerns Israel's internal affairs and would not allow any interference.

Context: a divided Knesset and opposition negotiations

The statement came after Netanyahu said he was ready to negotiate on a broad government, but only on condition that he lead it himself, and rejected a coalition dependent on the two main Arab parties — Ra'am and the Joint List. In last week's parliamentary elections, Netanyahu's bloc won 53 mandates, the Jewish opposition parties 48, and the Arab parties 19, leaving neither camp with a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. The parties of Naftali Bennett, Yair Golan and Avigdor Lieberman decided to recommend Eisenkot for forming the next government; expected recommendations from the two Arab lists could raise his support to 67 deputies. The obstacle remains Lieberman's refusal to join a government that includes Arab parties or relies on their support. On Tuesday, opposition leaders are due to meet to align their positions, and on Wednesday President Isaac Herzog will begin two days of consultations with the parliamentary factions.