Yashar chairman, MK Gadi Eisenkot, said on Saturday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu call for a unity government is "a political spin," and that he "knows full well that such a meeting has already been scheduled."
"It is set for tomorrow, between the negotiating teams of Yashar and Likud," Eisenkot said in a post on X/Twitter. "My fellow Israelis, this is just the latest ruse: Netanyahu calls for negotiations - even though they have already been arranged - and claims to desire unity, yet he simultaneously desecrates a formal state proceeding in the Knesset, sowing division and incitement as if there were no tomorrow."
He also said that "such a trick won't work on him," adding that Netanyahu "knows that the conditions for joining an emergency government under my leadership include accepting the principles I have outlined and parting ways with the extremists."
"Ultimately, after all the speeches and declarations, the truth remains: Netanyahu is aware that he has lost the election."
"He knows that there is an absolute majority against him among the citizens of Israel and within the Knesset, and he knows that a new, good government will indeed be formed. Consequently, he is waging a rearguard action aimed at placing obstacles in the way of forming a new government and preventing the replacement of the Speaker of the Knesset," Eisenkot wrote.
Netanyahu can prove commitment to unity in Knesset speaker votes, Eisenkot says
Eisenkot added that the Netanyahu-led bloc's commitment to national unity would be tested this week, when the Eisenkot-led bloc will vote to replace Knesset speaker, Likud MK Amir Ohana with Yashar party MK, Matan Kahana.
"If they are indeed committed to genuine political partnership, as they claim, they must allow a proper democratic process to take place on schedule and instruct their Knesset members to support the appointment of Matan Kahana - a former lieutenant colonel, squadron commander and Sayeret Matkal commando - as Knesset speaker."
"This is their opportunity to prove how serious they are. Or, once again, it will all be nothing more than an empty political trick. The choice is theirs. I am working, even at this very moment, to form a national emergency government as soon as possible."
Netanyahu's statement called for unity gov't to face Iran threat
Eisenkot's statements came in response to Netanyahu's post on X, where the prime minister spoke about his desire for a national unity government. Netanyahu wrote that meeting with Eisenkot on Thursday for a security briefing "only strengthened my understanding of how essential it is at this time to establish a national unity government."
"Gadi, Instead of trying to establish a shaky and dangerous government that will be unable to meet, even in part, the immense security and national challenges before us, let us do what is called for."
"Let us enter the room, without preconditions, set aside all our disagreements and all our boycotts, and reach agreements for Israel’s security and future, including on the issue of conscription, which can be resolved together with representatives of the Haredi public."
"We must remove this existential threat [posed by Iran] from over our heads once and for all," Netanyahu wrote. "A narrow government, or a government that relies on supporters of terrorism, will not be able to achieve this monumental goal. But a national unity government can achieve it in time, thereby ensuring Israel’s security for many years to come."
Finance Minister and Religious Zionist Party chairman MK Bezalel Smotrich seconded Netanyahu's call to form a unity government with Eisenkot in a post on X, expressing support for the proposal and urging Eisenkot to accept it.
"I hope that the prime minister's outstretched hand will be met by a brotherly hand. Gadi, the time has come. Religious Zionism will be in the political arena exactly what it is on the battlefield: the spearhead of unity and national responsibility. Brothers, Jews. A time for unity," he wrote.