Leaders of Israel’s opposition parties met in Herzliya on Tuesday to discuss a joint strategy for forming a government for the first time since the October 27 elections. In a joint statement, they said they agreed on the need to form a “Zionist government” as soon as possible, based on four principles set by Gadi Eisenkot, who leads the opposition bloc seeking to remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from office.

Eisenkot’s conditions are recognition of Israel as a Jewish, democratic, liberal and egalitarian state; commitment to the values of Israel’s Declaration of Independence; compulsory national or civil service for all citizens; and recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organisation whose military and governing capabilities in Gaza should be destroyed. The principles also apply to Arab parties, whose support could be crucial to securing a parliamentary majority.

The meeting included Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, Avigdor Lieberman and Yair Golan. The opposition parties also reaffirmed that they would nominate Eisenkot to President Isaac Herzog as a candidate to form a government. Herzog is due to begin consultations with the parties on Wednesday.

Lapid said the recent events underlined the need to form a government and remove Netanyahu and his allies from the prime minister’s residence. Bennett said his Beyajad party would mobilise fully to help Eisenkot form a government as quickly as possible.

The bloc represented at the meeting holds 48 parliamentary seats, short of the 61 needed for a majority. Arab parties hold 19 seats, but most opposition leaders have been reluctant to rely on their support, while Lieberman has rejected it outright. Golan has backed an alliance with the Palestinian Arab parties and met leaders of the left-wing Joint List on Tuesday to discuss coordination.

The politicians were also met outside the hotel by relatives of hostages taken to Gaza after the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023. Michael Illouz, whose 26-year-old son Guy died in Gaza, urged them to reach an agreement and said those responsible for managing the events of October 7 should not be part of the next government.

The opposition’s options remain limited if it does not seek support from Arab parties: it would need to negotiate with ultra-Orthodox or far-right parties that backed Netanyahu during the outgoing parliamentary term.

Sources: Observador.