Coalition Talks: Biton Claims Trump and Herzog Will Back Eisenkot
A Likud ally says the opposition faces a deadline to secure a speaker before unity talks collapse.
By Aiko Sato ·
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing to form a unity government, according to Dimona Mayor Benny Biton. The Likud figure claims that President Isaac Herzog and US President Donald Trump will serve as guarantors for Gadi Eisenkot, the head of the Yashar party. Biton told Kan News on Sunday that these leaders will assure opposition members that the new coalition will remain stable.
The push for a new governing arrangement follows recent tensions in the Knesset. Biton warned that the opposition is moving to replace Speaker Amir Ohana before a coalition is finalized. He described this maneuver as a declaration of war. "There is no problem with agreeing on a Knesset speaker if it is done through mutual agreement among everyone," he said. "If they intend to make unilateral parliamentary moves, that is a red line."
Likud has reinforced Biton's warning to the opposition bloc. The party reportedly stated that removing Ohana with the support of Arab parties would destroy the possibility of a national unity government. Biton emphasized that without such an alliance, Israel is heading for another election. "Neither bloc will manage to form a government under any circumstances," he said.
Biton spoke with President Herzog on Saturday to coordinate the messaging. He argued that if domestic leaders lack trust, international backing will provide the necessary weight. "I trust that the president of the State of Israel will guarantee this," Biton said. "But if you do not trust the president of the State of Israel, I also trust the president of the United States, the president of the world's greatest superpower."
The Likud leader dismissed the prospect of an opposition government formed without his party. He predicted that any such administration would be short-lived. "It will not last or survive more than six months," Biton said. The next step is for the Knesset to determine the fate of the current speaker and the subsequent coalition negotiations.
The political stakes remain high as both blocs prepare for the upcoming session. Biton's comments signal that Netanyahu is willing to bring in a moderate partner to secure a majority. The opposition must now decide whether to test the speaker's position or accept the unity framework.
