Netanyahu Urges Eisenkot to Hold Talks Without Preconditions on National Unity Government
Key Facts
On November 14, Benjamin Netanyahu urged Gadi Eisenkot to begin coalition talks "without preconditions" to form a national unity government, saying the government must address the Iranian threat, according to JNS. Netanyahu said Tehran was "once again working to revive its nuclear program," claims the report attributed to him. The prime minister issued the call at a time when neither bloc has a majority in the Knesset, making government formation an immediate focus of the political and security landscape. He also called for a government of parties with a Jewish majority, without saying in his speech that he should lead it, according to The Times of Israel. The appeal follows earlier calls for such a government that were accompanied by Netanyahu asserting his leadership of it.
Netanyahu linked the coalition formula to the ability to address the Iran issue, saying a narrow government reliant on lawmakers from Arab parties would be unable to confront the threat, while a unity government could. He pointed to the 19 seats held by Arab parties in the Knesset, according to JNS. The proposal puts coalition arithmetic at the center of his security argument, with Netanyahu favoring a broad-based formula over a government relying on those parties' support. Before the appeal, Eisenkot had said he was seeking to form a government under his leadership and that his bloc was exploring available options while making progress in talks with its partners. The Times of Israel quoted him as saying, "We are making progress in our discussions with our partners, while at the same time exploring every available option."
Eisenkot responded to Netanyahu's appeal by calling it "another political maneuver" and said a negotiating meeting was already scheduled for Sunday, according to JNS. His response suggests the dispute is not only over whether to hold talks, but also their timing and format: Netanyahu called for talks without preconditions, while Eisenkot said a meeting had been arranged. The report gave no further details about the meeting's agenda or participants. The two men had met in Jerusalem the previous Thursday for a two-hour security briefing, according to the network. A joint statement after the meeting said they would continue exchanging updates as needed.
The figures cited by JNS show the scale of the parliamentary impasse: representatives of parties comprising 67 members of the new Knesset recommended Eisenkot for prime minister, while 46 members backed Netanyahu. Although Eisenkot received President Isaac Herzog's mandate to form a government, neither bloc has a majority in the 120-seat legislature. Options before Eisenkot include securing support from Arab parties, a power-sharing agreement with Netanyahu, or an understanding with ultra-Orthodox parties over military-service exemptions, according to The Associated Press. Netanyahu said a unity agreement could also address conscription, adding that the issue "can be resolved together with representatives of the ultra-Orthodox public." These issues remain part of negotiations over the shape of the next coalition.
The negotiations extend beyond allocating portfolios, as Eisenkot's bloc has begun legislative work while coalition talks continue. Proposals cited by The Associated Press include establishing an official state commission of inquiry into the October 7, 2023 attacks, imposing term limits on the prime minister, and reversing changes made by the outgoing government to limit the judiciary's powers. The new Knesset can introduce legislation before a government is fully formed, while Netanyahu and his government remain in office in a caretaker capacity during the transition. This puts the negotiations on two parallel tracks: building a new coalition and addressing a legislative agenda already under way. No end date for the transition period was specified.
Eisenkot has 28 days to form a coalition, with the possibility of a two-week extension at the president's discretion, according to The Associated Press. If he fails, Netanyahu could be given a chance to form a government; if he also fails, an election could be held in early spring next year. The deadline adds time pressure to negotiations, while coalition options remain divided among a power-sharing deal, an understanding with ultra-Orthodox parties or seeking support from Arab parties. On the security front, the agency said the war Israel began with the United States against Iran remained unresolved, alongside continued fighting with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Government formation is therefore taking place while Iran and regional fighting remain on Israel's security agenda.
Iran's nuclear program remains a source of disagreement and tension alongside Israel's political debate. The Associated Press reported that the International Atomic Energy Agency had been unable to verify the status of Iran's stockpile of uranium close to weapons-grade since the June 2025 strikes, describing the information gap as a proliferation concern. Inspectors have also been unable to access Iranian nuclear sites damaged in a 12-day war in June 2025, while the IAEA said it was ready to resume safeguards work at short notice. On the diplomatic track, the agency reported that Iran remained unwilling to negotiate over its nuclear program until the United States accepted terms Tehran is demanding as part of a ceasefire agreement. Qatar, according to the report, continues its mediation efforts to reach an interim deal restoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, while mediators await clarity on Washington's position on a negotiated agreement.