With Israel’s parliamentary elections just days away, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, a leading contender, has firmly ruled out serving in a government led by incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Speaking on Wednesday to radio station 103 FM, Eisenkot stated he would not accept a ministerial role under Netanyahu’s leadership, including any power-sharing arrangement such as a rotation deal.

The October 27 election is highly competitive, with polls showing Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc and the opposition alliance supporting Eisenkot nearly tied, each expected to secure around 50 to 52 seats in the 120-member Knesset. Such a close outcome raises the prospect of a unity government involving Netanyahu’s coalition and centrist or center-right parties.

Eisenkot has sharply criticized Netanyahu, particularly blaming him for what he characterizes as failures leading to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Despite his refusal to serve under Netanyahu, Eisenkot did not categorically reject the formation of a unity government altogether.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, whose party is polling third, expressed that including Netanyahu in a future government would not be a problem for him. However, Bennett pointed out that Zionist law prohibits individuals facing criminal charges from serving as ministers, although this restriction does not apply to the prime minister. Netanyahu, who is currently standing trial on multiple corruption charges, denies all allegations.

As Israel approaches the election, the prospects for coalition-building appear complex, with potential legal and political obstacles complicating efforts to form a stable government.