Surrogates for US President Donald Trump spoke with Israeli officials about the possibility of a unity government that includes both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yishai party, The Washington Post reported on Monday.
The report cited a Likud official who said, “Eisenkot has shown he lacks the backbone and the determination that Netanyahu has, and I think Trump understands that.”
“What Trump wants is a stable and reliable Israeli government that can be formed as soon as possible after the election,” the official added.
According to the report, officials within the Trump administration are divided on the issue of a unity government.
The report noted that Netanyahu told US and European officials that he would push for a more moderate coalition if he partnered with Eisenkot.
Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir attacked Netanyahu and Likud on Monday, claiming the party is working to weaken Otzma Yehudit ahead of the elections.
Ben-Gvir alleged that the Prime Minister’s Office has pledged to European countries that the next government will be a unity government without Ben-Gvir. “Instead of bringing votes from Eisenkot, they are trying to lower me below the threshold,” he said.
He added that Netanyahu announced that he would not be reappointed Minister of National Security, and accused Likud of trying to form a unity government without him.