“I categorically pledge that I will not serve under Netanyahu, not even under a rotation arrangement, and if that happens, I will resign after one hour,” Eisenkot told Israeli radio station 103 FM, Anadolu Agency reported.
Israel is scheduled to hold general elections on October 27. Opinion polls cited in local reporting indicate that neither Netanyahu’s bloc nor the opposition camp led by Eisenkot is expected to secure the 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset needed to form a majority government.
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The prospect of a divided parliament has prompted speculation about the formation of a national unity government. Under one possible arrangement, Netanyahu and Eisenkot could take turns serving as prime minister in a coalition that excludes the far-right Jewish Power party, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Both major political camps have rejected the possibility of forming a government with Palestinian parties expected to enter parliament, despite the potential role such parties could play in coalition negotiations.
Eisenkot, a former chief of staff of the Israeli military, also declined to commit to declaring Qatar an enemy state, a position proposed by opposition Together party leader and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
“It would not be serious to simply say in a media interview that I would declare Qatar a hostile state. We will hold a serious discussion on this matter,” Eisenkot said.
Israeli ministers and opposition figures have accused Qatar of supporting Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Doha denies the allegations and says its humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in the enclave has been delivered through Israel and the United Nations.
Netanyahu has led Israel’s current government since late December 2022. His coalition has been widely described as the most right-wing in the country’s history.
The prime minister is also standing trial in three cases involving allegations of corruption, bribery and breach of trust, which he denies. Separately, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.
The election is expected to determine whether Netanyahu can retain power or whether opposition parties can assemble an alternative governing coalition.
