Naftali Bennett, Chair of the center-right B’Yachad (Together) party announced Sunday that he will recommend to President Isaac Herzog that Gadi Eisenkot be the candidate to form a government.
His announcement read: “At the direction of former Prime Minister and B’Yachad Chair Naftali Bennett, the faction will recommend to the president that Yashar Chair Gadi Eisenkot be the candidate to form the government.
“Former PM Bennett made clear throughout the election campaign that he would respect the voters’ decision, and that is what he is doing. Former PM Bennett informed Yashar! Chair Gadi Eisenkot of his decision.”
The president said today at the state memorial ceremony for the late President Ezer Weizman: “This coming Wednesday, I will receive the official election results from the chair of the Central Elections Committee and deputy president of the Supreme Court—Justice Noam Sohlberg. After that, I will begin consultations at the President’s Residence. The President’s Residence will be wide open to all factions and parties.”
Herzog emphasized: “I have already said that I hope the representatives will come with an open mind, and today I add—with an open heart, to listen and share ideas and find creative solutions to prevent additional elections.”
The president also addressed how party leaders are dealing with the promises they made to their voters before the elections. “As we all know, during an election campaign, naturally and predictably, the candidates climb tall trees. But the elections are over,” Herzog said. “The election results are an existing fact—they are reality. And now is the time to tell all the leaders: stop climbing the trees and settle into this reality. This week at the President’s Residence, we will try to set up ladders, to enable the leaders to settle into this reality in a measured and careful way.”