Netanyahu Ally: Herzog and Trump Back Eisenkot Pact

Dimona Mayor Benny Biton claimed on Sunday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks a unity government, citing backing from President Isaac Herzog and US President Donald Trump for Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot.

Biton, a close associate of the prime minister, stated that he spoke with Herzog on Saturday regarding the potential coalition. He argued that the Israeli president would serve as a guarantor for the agreement. "I trust that the president of the State of Israel will guarantee this. But if you do not trust the president of the State of Israel, I also trust the president of the United States, the president of the world's greatest superpower," Biton told Kan News.

The mayor also addressed the opposition's plan to replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana before a coalition is finalized. He described that move as a "declaration of war" and a "red line" if executed through unilateral parliamentary means.

"There is no problem with agreeing on a Knesset speaker if it is done through mutual agreement among everyone," Biton said. "If they intend to make unilateral parliamentary moves, that is a red line."

Likud reportedly informed opposition members that swapping the speaker with support from Arab parties would undermine the possibility of a national unity government. Biton warned that without such a government, Israel would face another election where neither bloc could form a majority.

He asserted that any government formed by the opposition without Likud would be short-lived. "Neither bloc will manage to form a government under any circumstances," he said, adding that an opposition-led government "will not last or survive more than six months."