The leader of the Israeli party Yashar, Gadi Eisenkot, has defended this Sunday the need to promote “creative and extraordinary” political actions after officially accepting the mandate to form a government in Israel from the country’s president, Isaac Herzog.
“I assume the mandate that is given to me here today to lead the establishment of a national emergency government. For this, creative and extraordinary political actions will be necessary,” he said from the headquarters of the Israeli Presidency, highlighting the exceptional nature of the political moment.
The leader of the centrist formation has stressed that “Israel cannot afford to lose time or repeatedly, endlessly, have other elections,” and has recalled that it will now have to open a complex process of talks to ensure a sufficient majority in the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament.
In this context, he has directly called on the Likud party of outgoing prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as the Religious Zionism Party. “If they truly believe that it is the moment for unity, as they have said to the president, I cannot imagine any reason why they cannot come and support a government led by me and the principles that I have presented,” he said, inviting them to join his proposal.
Eisenkot has insisted that his “door is open and my hand, extended” to all political forces and elected officials “who understand the seriousness of this moment and are willing to take brave steps for the State of Israel.” At the same time, he warned that “anyone who tries to sabotage the formation of a government for personal and not substantial reasons will be remembered in history as the one who did not save Israel in an emergency.”
The former head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces has appealed to his “deep sense of duty” and to the “clear understanding” of the “heavy responsibility that rests on my shoulders.” “With me and before me are the eyes of all citizens of Israel,” he said, emphasizing the pressure that comes with the mandate.
Eisenkot has warned that Israel “is in a challenging and decisive moment” and has stressed that “the war scenarios remain open at the same time,” describing a highly unstable security environment. He also acknowledged that “we are in the middle of a devastating diplomatic crisis. Even our closest friends and strategic allies say that they have to reconsider their relations with us.”
For his part, Isaac Herzog has urged Eisenkot to do "everything possible". "I hope that he does everything possible to form a government that serves the entire nation. I hope with all my heart that the government that is formed will bring unity, connection and healing to all parts of the nation," the president has stated, trusting that the new executive will manage to reduce internal polarization.