Former Israeli Prime Minister Barak urges Eisenkot to accelerate government formation

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak called on Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot on Sunday to accelerate efforts to form a new government, saying the immediate priority should be replacing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration.

Speaking to Israel’s public broadcaster, Barak, who served as prime minister from 1999 to 2001, urged Eisenkot to move quickly in negotiations over the next governing coalition.

“Eisenkot must act as quickly as possible,” Barak said.

“The most important commitment is to oust Netanyahu; the primary priority is to replace this government,” he added.

Barak also expressed openness to including Arab political parties in the next government, arguing that all potential coalition arrangements should be considered.

“All options are valid; if Arab parties are part of the government, that is a good thing,” he said.

He further suggested that Netanyahu’s Likud party could participate in a national unity government, provided Netanyahu himself was not part of the arrangement.

Meanwhile, Israel’s interim Defence Minister Israel Katz called for national unity in response to what he described as continuing security threats from Iran.

According to the newspaper Israel Hayom, Katz accused Tehran of attempting to resume efforts to acquire nuclear weapons and warned that Israel could not accept such threats.

“We cannot accept these threats,” Katz said, urging Israelis to remain united in addressing the country’s security challenges.

“In the face of the major tasks that still lie ahead, we must remain united; this is a time for unity, responsibility, and mutual solidarity,” he added.

The statements come amid negotiations over the formation of Israel’s next government following the parliamentary elections.

During the election campaign, Netanyahu’s Likud party repeatedly emphasized the threat posed by Iran and warned against political alliances involving Arab parties.

Likud continues to advocate a national unity government led by Netanyahu and composed of Zionist parties, without relying on Arab parliamentary factions.

Barak’s remarks reflect a contrasting approach among Netanyahu’s opponents, who are seeking alternative coalition arrangements to facilitate a change in government.