Jerusalem:An Israeli television channel reported Wednesday on a potential power-sharing agreement involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot. Under the proposed deal, Netanyahu would serve as the head of the government for two years before transferring power to Eisenkot. This arrangement would also involve Netanyahu retiring from politics and receiving a full pardon for his ongoing corruption cases.
According to Anadolu Agency – English, Israel's Channel 14 indicated that President Isaac Herzog is actively promoting this potential agreement as a solution to the current political stalemate following the inconclusive parliamentary elections held on Tuesday.
Channel 14 noted that the proposal has been in consideration for two years, predating the recent election campaign. The arrangement may become feasible if the current parliamentary seat distribution remains unchanged, with Netanyahu reportedly keen on starting the tenure to continue collaboration with US President Donald Trump.
Despite these reports, Herzog's office has firmly denied any involvement, labeling the claims as a "complete lie." The office emphasized that no discussions have taken place about the government formation process and noted that official election results would be delivered to the president the following Wednesday, leading to consultations with parliamentary factions.
Preliminary election results, with 85% of the votes counted, show Netanyahu's bloc securing 53 seats against Eisenkot's opposition bloc's 48 seats. Arab parties have secured 19 seats, leaving all parties short of the 61-seat majority in the 120-member Knesset. The vote count continues, including special ballots.
The Central Elections Committee reported a voter turnout of 77.7%, the highest since 1999, marking an increase from previous elections. Netanyahu, who has led a far-right government since 2022, is currently facing trial for charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, and is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.