Full Breakdown
Gadi Eisenkot Rules Out Serving Under Benjamin Netanyahu Ahead of Oct 27 Election
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Stance and Immediate Impact
On October 21, former Israeli Defence Forces chief Gadi Eisenkot told radio station 103 FM that he would not serve as a minister in any government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even if a rotation agreement were offered. He added that he would resign within an hour should such a deal be reached. Eisenkot’s refusal narrows the options for forming a coalition after the scheduled October 27 Knesset election, where polls indicate his Yashar! party and Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc each project roughly 50-52 seats, short of the 61-seat majority needed to govern alone.
Recent Coalition Landscape
The election follows a period of political fragmentation, with three elections held in less than a year previously. In 2020, Netanyahu and centrist Benny Gantz formed a power-sharing government that lasted only 13 months. Current discussions have floated a “national unity” government that would combine right-wing, centrist, and centre-right parties. An October 16 poll found that 55 % of respondents would prefer such a unity arrangement over new elections if no clear winner emerges. However, Eisenkot’s stance, coupled with his opposition to partnering with Arab parties, complicates any broad-based coalition.
Official Statements & Responses
Eisenkot’s position was reiterated in a joint statement after his meeting with Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman, emphasizing the need to boost voter turnout while maintaining his refusal to serve under Netanyahu. Liberman later said he had been asked repeatedly about a national unity government, indicating his party’s reluctance to support a minority administration. Yisrael Beytenu faction chairman Oded Forer questioned whether Eisenkot and Democratic leader Yair Golan might be aligning with Arab party Ra’am, noting Mansour Abbas’s support for integrating Arab Israelis into civilian national service.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Absolutely not. I will not serve under Netanyahu, not even in a rotation agreement. If that happens, you'll see it; I'll resign an hour later,” — Gadi Eisenkot, ex-army chief
- “Is this a hint that Eisenkot and Yair Golan have an agreement with Ra'am?” — Oded Forer, beytenu faction chairman
- “After all, Mansour Abbas supports integrating Arab Israelis into civilian national service.” — Additionally
- “In recent days, I have been asked several times about a national unity government,” — Avigdor Liberman, yisrael beytenu chairman
What’s Next
With the October 27 election imminent, parties will continue negotiations over possible coalition formulas. Eisenkot’s categorical refusal and Liberman’s public dismissal of a minority government suggest that any post-election arrangement will likely require either a Netanyahu-led coalition that excludes Eisenkot’s Yashar! party or a new alignment that respects Eisenkot’s condition of not serving under Netanyahu. The outcome will determine whether Israel moves toward another unity government or faces another round of elections.