Broadcaster Eliraz Sade has called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot to strike a deal that would allow a new government to be formed without the chareidi parties.
Writing on Tuesday, Sade argued that if no bloc reaches 61 seats, Netanyahu will simply remain in office as caretaker prime minister. "If there's no 61, Netanyahu continues as caretaker, he won't give up," he wrote. To break the deadlock, he said, "Eisenkot needs to be willing to be defense minister in a draft government under Netanyahu without the chareidim."
Under Sade's proposal, both men would have to give ground. Netanyahu would end his partnership with the chareidi parties, which Sade described as "breaking the historic bloc." Eisenkot, in turn, would drop his boycott of Itamar Ben-Gvir and stop holding out for a 61-seat majority and the premiership for himself.
Sade firmly ruled out the alternative of a coalition relying on Arab parties. "A government with Arab parties that don't condemn Hamas is forbidden," he wrote.
He warned that without a breakthrough, Israel could be dragged into yet another election. "We cannot accept another endless election round that endangers the state's security," he said.
