Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party who has been tasked with forming the next government, announced they had agreed to meet so Eisenkot can be briefed on political and security developments, a day after they traded criticism over the handling of security matters during the transition.
The agreement followed Israeli reports of disagreements between Netanyahu and the army chief of staff over possible military moves against Iran, reopening debate over what a caretaker government can decide on major security issues.
The Knesset election on 27 October ended without Netanyahu’s camp securing a parliamentary majority. President Isaac Herzog then asked Eisenkot to form a government after parties representing 67 of the 120 MPs recommended him, against 46 who backed Netanyahu.
The mandate does not transfer power automatically: Eisenkot still needs coalition deals that win the Knesset’s confidence. Until then, Netanyahu continues to head the sitting government and run state affairs, including military matters.
Israeli political and legal circles are debating how far a caretaker government is bound to exercise restraint on fateful decisions, putting any major military move at this stage under intense political and legal scrutiny.
Source: BBC Arabic, Israeli media
