Eisenkot and Lapid coordinate ahead of presidential consultations
Political factions are preparing for consultations with Israel’s president this week. Yashar! with Eisenkot chairman Gadi Eisenkot met former Prime Minister Yair Lapid this evening to discuss the election results and coordinate next steps. Eisenkot described their meeting as reflecting a shared commitment to fulfilling voters’ wishes.
With the count complete, Eisenkot claimed that a majority of Israeli citizens, by more than half a million votes, voted against the government of October 7 and draft evasion, and in favor of change. He claimed a majority both overall and among the Zionist public that serves the country. He said the results were clear despite attempts to cast doubt on them.
Eisenkot recalled describing the election as Israel’s most consequential. He renewed his promises to reunite Israel, end what he called Netanyahu’s divisive culture of lies, and prevent one side from defeating the other. He pledged to end the era of “us” versus “them” and continue pursuing these goals in the coming weeks.
Eisenkot proposes immediate parliamentary action
Eisenkot pledged immediate action through what he called a clear parliamentary majority. His priorities include establishing a state commission of inquiry, advancing universal national service obligations, increasing and strengthening IDF personnel, appropriately rewarding and recognizing those who serve, and repealing laws associated with the judicial overhaul.
He emphasized that the Knesset grants confidence to the government, not the reverse.
Eisenkot reiterated his campaign goal: a broad, Zionist and statesmanlike government, built on the widest possible national consensus, to heal divisions and fundamentally change Israel’s direction.
He outlined four foundations for partnership: recognition of Israel as Jewish, democratic, liberal and egalitarian; commitment to the Declaration of Independence; mandatory military, national or civilian service for every citizen; and recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization whose military and governing power in Gaza must be destroyed.
He pledged to coordinate with his partners and broaden the coalition to fulfill voters’ wishes and improve Israel’s domestic and international standing. Any Knesset member willing to sign these principles would be a potential partner. The government would remain open to elected representatives who accepted them.
Amit Segal observed that Eisenkot’s statement did not include a categorical rejection of partnering with Netanyahu. He said time would tell whether this was coincidental.
Eisenkot said high turnout and the country’s challenges required an extraordinary effort to avoid another election and a prolonged political crisis. Referring to the October 27 vote, he said the choice of Israel’s next government belonged exclusively to its citizens, without interference or manipulation, and that elected representatives now had to translate their decision into action.
He said the October 7 failure and the subsequent security, domestic, economic and international circumstances demanded courageous decisions quickly. He pledged to seek the broadest possible national consensus for repair and reconstruction.
Eisenkot sets conditions for supporting military operations
Eisenkot said the war against Israel’s enemies was not over and its objectives had not been achieved. Until a new government was sworn in, he would support military operations only against direct and immediate threats that could not wait.
He warned that the coming weeks would be complicated and filled with political spin and lies. He pledged to act courageously, quietly and creatively, with a deep commitment to the voters and the country, expressing confidence that these efforts would succeed.
