Israeli opposition leader vows to ‘act quickly’ to form ‘national emergency government’

Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot said Tuesday that the “change bloc” would “act quickly” to form a “national emergency government,” elect a new parliament speaker and advance legislation, Anadolu reports.

Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, made the remarks following a meeting of opposition leaders, Israeli news outlet Ynet reported.

He said the bloc’s legislative priorities would include “important legislation and repealing laws that endanger democracy.”

“The negotiating teams of the parties will begin working soon on common principles and on implementing the moves in the Knesset,” Eisenkot added.

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Tuesday’s gathering marked the first joint meeting of opposition leaders since the Oct. 27 parliamentary elections.

The meeting brought together Eisenkot, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett of the Together party, Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman, Yair Golan of the Democrats and opposition leader Yair Lapid, according to The Jerusalem Post.

The elections left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc with 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while opposition parties secured 48 seats and Arab parties won 19.

The opposition remains short of the 61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority on its own, making support from Arab lawmakers potentially decisive in efforts to form a government.

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