politics

Proposed unity government of key Jewish parties, center to right

Netanyahu urged a Jewish unity government excluding Arab parties as Eisenkot, tapped to form a cabinet, said the premier knows he lost the election.

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Key facts

  • The 26 other members of parliament, from Arab and ultra-Orthodox parties, could abstain, allowing the government to be approved without an absolute…
  • The unity government he proposed would be made up of key Jewish parties ranging from the center to the right, while excluding the Arab parties.
  • Eisenkot, a former army chief, was tapped on Sunday to form a new government within 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension.

The 26 other members of parliament, from Arab and ultra-Orthodox parties, could abstain, allowing the government to be approved without an absolute majority in the Knesset, which has 120 seats.

The unity government he proposed would be made up of key Jewish parties ranging from the center to the right, while excluding the Arab parties.

"Let's meet in one room, without preconditions, put aside all our disagreements and all the boycotts, and reach agreements for the security and the future of the state,"Netanyahu said.

Eisenkot, a former army chief, was tapped on Sunday to form a new government within 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension.

He is in the midst of negotiations to form a new administration. Those talks are expected to be difficult.

Netanyahu has waged a campaign to discredit Arab-Israeli parties, which gained a record number of seats in the election.

He said Netanyahu"knows he lost the election"and was calling for negotiations while they were already under way.

Under the minority plan, the 48 lawmakers in Eisenkot's bloc would vote in favor of his government, against the 46 Netanyahu backers.

Dig deeper

Who is Benjamin Netanyahu?

Netanyahu is Israel's longtime prime minister and leader of the right-wing Likud party. In this story he is urging rival Jewish parties to join talks even as he is described as having lost the election.

Who is Gadi Eisenkot?

Eisenkot is a former chief of the Israel Defense Forces who later entered politics with a centrist bloc. He has been given the mandate to try to form a government within 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension.

What is the Knesset?

The Knesset is Israel's parliament, with 120 seats. A government needs enough support, or abstentions, there to be approved.

What are the Arab and ultra-Orthodox parties in this story?

Arab parties represent many of Israel's Arab citizens and won a record number of seats; ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) parties are religious Jewish factions that often sit with the right. Together they hold the 26 seats that could abstain rather than join the proposed cabinet.

Why does a unity government that excludes Arab parties matter?

The plan would unite key Jewish parties from the center to the right and leave Arab parties outside the coalition, relying on their possible abstention so a minority cabinet could still pass.

What happens next?

Eisenkot has a set window to finish difficult coalition talks. Under the minority plan, his 48 lawmakers would back the government against 46 Netanyahu supporters if the other 26 abstain.

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