Eisenkot Refuses Netanyahu Cabinet Even If Trump Asks

Gadi Eisenkot declared on Monday that he will not serve in a cabinet led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a stance he said would hold even if President Donald Trump personally requested his participation. Eisenkot made the remarks during a recent closed-door meeting with party members, according to KAN, which cited unnamed sources. The Yashar chairman stated, “I will not sit in a government led by Netanyahu,” framing his decision as a firm boundary for post-election negotiations.

Eisenkot clarified that he would accept a meeting with Trump if invited, but he intended to maintain a strict line regarding American influence. He explained that while he would respect the president’s request, he would argue that the formation of the government is an internal Israeli issue. “If Trump calls me, I will respect the president and come, but I will insist that this is an internal Israeli matter and will avoid interference,” Eisenkot said in the discussions.

This position follows reports that Trump surrogates contacted Israeli officials after the election to explore a unity government pairing Netanyahu and Eisenkot. A Likud official told The Washington Post that the American objective was a stable and reliable Israeli government formed as quickly as possible. The report also noted that Netanyahu told US officials he viewed Eisenkot as the ideal partner if hostilities with Iran resumed, adding that he would pursue a more moderate coalition if such a partnership took shape.

In the current political landscape, leaders of the opposition have coalesced around Eisenkot. Naftali Bennett, Yair Golan, and Avigdor Liberman announced they would recommend Eisenkot to President Isaac Herzog as the candidate to form a government. These three leaders, along with Eisenkot and outgoing opposition figure Yair Lapid, are scheduled to hold their first joint meeting since the election on Tuesday.

The recent vote left neither bloc with a majority in the 120-member Knesset. Netanyahu’s faction secured 53 seats, while opposition parties won 48. Arab parties hold the remaining 19 seats, meaning their support could provide Eisenkot with a majority of 67 lawmakers. However, the path to power remains complicated by internal disagreements. Liberman has ruled out joining a government that relies on Arab parties for its majority, as he has also rejected a unity government with Netanyahu.

The coming week will determine whether these divisions can be bridged. The opposition bloc must decide if it can overcome the hesitation regarding Arab party support to secure the necessary numbers. Eisenkot’s refusal to join a Netanyahu-led government removes one potential path, forcing the remaining parties to finalize their coalition strategy before presenting a candidate to the president.