Netanyahu weighs rotation gov't with Eisenkot amid fears of not securing majority bloc in Knesset

Amidst the upcoming Israeli election, officials within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party are strategizing for a potential post-election deadlock. They are analyzing scenarios where neither the government nor the opposition bloc secures the necessary 61 seats for a majority, leading to a political stalemate.

One of the contingency plans being discussed involves forming a broad unity government with a power-sharing agreement between Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, the head of the Yashar party. A central concern for Likud officials is how to convince Eisenkot to enter such a rotation government and, crucially, how to assure him that the premiership would indeed pass to him as agreed, referencing the failed rotation deal with Benny Gantz in 2020.

To address this trust deficit, Likud discussions have included the possibility of Netanyahu transitioning to the presidency. This move could potentially provide Netanyahu with a defined political exit strategy after his tenure as prime minister, while simultaneously offering Eisenkot a stronger guarantee that the rotation agreement would be honored. The timing of such a transition could even be linked to Isaac Herzog's term as president ending, creating a clear pathway for both leaders.

These considerations are currently described as strategic assessments and scenario analyses within Likud's "broad government" campaign. The underlying premise is that while Netanyahu might not win a clear majority, the opposing bloc may also fall short, increasing pressure to form a unity government rather than hold another election.