Bennett, Eisenkot discuss creating ‘new leadership for Israel’ to replace current gov’t

Eisenkot and Bennett shared that they had discussed the “deterioration of Israel’s international position, and actions to create a new and best leadership for Israel”.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met the former MK Gadi Eisenkot on Sunday to discuss the creation of a new leadership in Israel, among other subjects linked to the country, the two after the meeting announced.

The meeting was part of a coordinated preparation plan to replace the government, said the joint press release, adding that it follows several meetings that the two have held in recent weeks.

The meeting also marks another individual meeting to discuss the creation of a new government with Zionist opposition leaders before the elections, who are currently scheduled for October 2026.

Discuss Israel’s national position

Eisenkot and Bennett shared that they had discussed the “deterioration of the international position of Israel, and the actions of the creation of a new and best leadership for Israel, which will unite the people, will strengthen security and reconstruct the country.”

They also declared that they had discussed the current war and “the urgency of bringing the hostages back”.

During new individual meetings between the opposition party leaders before the elections, Eisenkot met the leader of Yisrael Beyté, Avigdor Liberman on Thursday evening.

Eisenkot and Liberman said they had discussed additional coordination between Zionist opposition parties, as well as the formation of shared orientation principles that would serve as a “coherent governing alternative, responsible and focused on values, which would lead Israel and replace the government of October 7”.

Liberman also met Bennett at the end of August, where the two discussed the government’s replacement “as soon as possible to repair Israel”.

Liberman asked for a meeting to formulate “guiding principles” for the next government with heads of Zionist opposition parties, as well as the former Eisenkot and Bennett, at the end of August.

His request was sent to the opposition chief Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) in an official letter.

Liberman asked that the meeting be held “as soon as possible” to allow the formulation of guiding principles, which “must reflect large agreements on central issues on the national agenda”.

Among the questions listed by Liberman to discuss were security, the economy, the creation of a constitution, military service in the country and the separation of religion and the state.

“It is up to us to work together and create a shared base for action,” he wrote in the letter.

Lapid held a press conference last week when he said that if the Coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was to win the elections again, “it would be the end of Zionism.”

The opposition leader continued by saying that the next elections “would not be easy this time either. Everyone will be involved – Bennett, Liberman and Eisenkot. Each of them has already declared that he will be Prime Minister, or at the very least Minister of Defense. “

“It is legitimate, I have no problem with people who have ambitions, but someone must also know how to take all these forces and build a government,” said Lapid, saying that only his party would be able to form a successful government.

Before the current government of Netanyahu, Bennett and Lapid had formed a national government of unit in June 2021.

Meanwhile, and in accordance with a coalition agreement, Bennett was Prime Minister from June 2021 to July 2022, Lapid succeeded him until the government was dissolved in December 2022.