Tuesday's meeting brought Eisenkot of Yashar! together with Bennett, Avigdor Liberman of Yisrael Beytenu and Yair Golan of the Democrats. Yair Lapid, the outgoing opposition leader, also attended. All of the leaders have agreed to recommend Eisenkot to Herzog, despite a range of disagreements among them. Eisenkot's party won the most seats of any faction in the bloc.
Lapid told reporters on arrival that the bloc has to form a government. "We are facing a serious and dangerous attempt to undermine the election results," he said. Recent events, he added, were "just another reminder that we need to remove Netanyahu from the Prime Minister's Office."
Victims of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and relatives of people killed that day gathered outside the venue. They called on the party leaders to form a government that would replace Netanyahu.
The Arab parties remain the main point of dispute. Golan has urged the bloc to govern with Ra'am and the Joint List, and both parties have said they are willing to cooperate in replacing Netanyahu. Before the meeting, Liberman repeated that such a coalition is not an option. On Monday he also ruled out a minority government and a unity government with Netanyahu. Before the election, Bennett drew a red line against forming a government with the Arab parties.
Liberman also put out a statement on Tuesday. "We must prevent another election," he said, adding that a functioning and stable government could be formed quickly without Ra'am and the Joint List.
Herzog will see the smaller parties first and then move up in order of parliamentary strength. His office said the order is meant to allow "a broad examination of all the options on the table" before the larger factions arrive, and "to encourage fresh thinking."
On Wednesday, Religious Zionist-Identity is first, at 5 p.m. Shas follows at 6:15 p.m. and Yisrael Beiteinu at 7:15 p.m.
On Thursday, United Torah Judaism opens the day at 8:30 a.m. Otzma Yehudit follows at 9:45 a.m., the Democrats at 11 a.m., Ra'am at 12:15 p.m. and the Joint List at 4:45 p.m. Beyachad is scheduled for 6 p.m. and Yashar! for 7:15 p.m. Likud, the largest party in the new Knesset, is last at 8:30 p.m.
Herzog's office said he "does not rule out an additional round of consultations if required."
United Torah Judaism's top concern is the yeshiva draft. Avraham Justman, the party's legal adviser, said it is not ruling out cooperation with Arab parties. "Right now, it appears that the change bloc has more room to maneuver," he said.
Whoever receives the mandate will have 28 days to assemble a coalition. The deadline can be extended by 14 days.
