Naftali Bennett, chairman of the Yachad party, announced this evening (Sunday) that his faction will recommend Gadi Eisenkot—chairman of the Yashar party—to the President of the State as the candidate to form the next government. An official statement released by the party noted that the decision was made under Bennett’s direct instruction. Throughout the election campaign, Bennett had stated that he would respect the will of the voters, and he is now putting that commitment into practice. It was further noted that Bennett spoke with Eisenkot, personally informing him of the decision to back him ahead of the round of consultations at the President’s Residence.
Bennett’s announcement follows a tense election campaign during which the “Change Bloc” refrained from presenting a single, agreed-upon, and publicly declared candidate for Prime Minister. While the leaders of the bloc’s five parties signed a memorandum of understanding on the eve of the election—pledging not to attack one another—they deliberately chose to postpone the decision regarding who would lead the camp until after the polls had closed. In doing so, they effectively asked voters for the mandate to replace the current government before having reached an agreement among themselves as to who should lead that new administration.
Within the internal balance of power, Gadi Eisenkot—who led the Yashar party during the election campaign—was viewed from the very outset as the leading candidate to head the bloc as the largest party in the camp. Meanwhile, beneath the surface, an intense power struggle was unfolding between Eisenkot and Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman, involving lengthy meetings aimed at resolving the political deadlock. Looming over these discussions was the concern that Liberman might demand to serve as Prime Minister first in a rotation agreement. Furthermore, there was a deep-seated disagreement regarding whether to rely on the Arab parties to secure a majority—a move that Liberman categorically rejected.
Bennett’s decision to grant Eisenkot the recommendation of the Yachad party marks an initial step toward uniting the opposition ranks behind a single candidate. This shifts the full weight of the situation—and the accompanying public pressure—onto Liberman and the other partners in the bloc, who must now decide whom to endorse at the President’s Residence.