Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party claimed on Saturday that several of its members received calls from Likud MKs and ministers, including "Almog Cohen, Education Minister Yoav Kisch, Yaakov Bardugo, and others."

"The entire public can see your anxiety over the defeat," Yashar wrote on X/Twitter on Saturday. "We are committed to implementing the public's decision and establishing a Zionist government that will work for all Israelis."

The party added that the alleged phone calls are evidence of "hysteria" in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party.

The Likud party responded to the claims later on Saturday, saying that Eisenkot and his campaign manager, Ronen Manelis, are "under pressure from those who are disrupting their plans to cooperate with parties that support terrorism," according to Maariv.

Then-Strategic Affairs Ministry director-general Ronen Manelis addresses the Knesset State Control Committee, July 28, 2020; Illustrative.
Then-Strategic Affairs Ministry director-general Ronen Manelis addresses the Knesset State Control Committee, July 28, 2020; Illustrative. (credit: ADINA VALMAN/KNESSET SPOKESPERSON)

Yashar replied soon after that National Missions Minister Orit Strock also called the party.

"Those who sent Shlomi Fogel to negotiate with Hamas and denied it, those who sent Miki Zohar to negotiate with Mansour Abbas and denied it, those who insist on employing a Qatari agent in their office and deny it, those who lost on October 27 and deny it, send emissaries to Yashar and deny it," the party wrote. "You know exactly how it works."

"Reminder to drink cold water even on an autumn evening," Yashar added.

Strock confirms calling 'good friend' Tal Ohana to offer congratulations

Strock responded in an X post later on Saturday, saying that she had called her "good friend" Yeruham Mayor Tal Ohana to "congratulate her on entering the Knesset."

"I love and appreciate Tal very much, and I wanted to share in her joy," wrote Strock. "Tal didn't answer, but she'll surely get back to me."

Eisenkot: 'Any MK' who accepts party's principles can join government

Yashar's claim comes following an announcement by Eisenkot earlier on Saturday that "any MK" can join his coalition on the condition that they agree to four principles.

The principles include the recognition of Israel as a Jewish, democratic, liberal, and egalitarian state; commitment to the values of the Declaration of Independence; mandatory military, national, or civilian service for all Israeli citizens; and recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization and acknowledgment of the obligation to destroy its military and governing power in the Gaza Strip.