Israel’s Eisenkot rules out joining Netanyahu-led government, even at Trump’s request: Report

Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot has ruled out joining a government led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even at the request of US President Donald Trump, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported Monday.

The broadcaster, citing unnamed sources, said Eisenkot made the remarks during a recent closed-door meeting.

“I will not sit in a government led by Netanyahu,” he was quoted as saying.

“If Trump invites me, I will respect the president and attend, but I will stress that this concerns internal Israeli affairs, and I will prevent any interference,” Eisenkot added, according to KAN.

The remarks came after Netanyahu said he was open to talks on a broad government but insisted that he should lead it, rejecting a coalition dependent on the two main Arab parties, Ra’am and the Joint List.

READ: Arab Joint List accuses Netanyahu of incitement following Israeli election results

Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 seats in last week’s parliamentary elections compared with 48 for the Jewish-led opposition parties and 19 for the Arab parties, leaving neither camp with a majority in the 120-member Knesset.

Naftali Bennett’s Together party, Yair Golan’s Democrats and Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beytenu party have decided to recommend Eisenkot to form the next government. Expected recommendations from the two Arab lists could raise his backing to 67 lawmakers.

However, Lieberman’s refusal to join a government that includes Arab parties or relies on their support remains an obstacle to forming a coalition.

Opposition leaders are scheduled to meet Tuesday to coordinate their positions before President Isaac Herzog begins two days of consultations with parliamentary factions Wednesday.

READ: Israeli opposition parties back Eisenkot to form government, Arab parties expected to follow