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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a national unity government with opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, citing the Iranian nuclear threat and the Hatikvah walkout by lawmakers. Eisenkot rejected the appeal as political spin and a bluff, saying negotiations were already scheduled and demanding a break with extremists. Netanyahu also urged Eisenkot to hold talks without preconditions, set aside political boycotts and resolve the military draft issue together. Eisenkot challenged Netanyahu and Smotrich to prove the pledge by backing Yashar's candidate for Knesset speaker, according to Haaretz. The Jerusalem Post published an opinion piece asking whether Netanyahu should step aside to save Likud, as Eisenkot seeks to form the next government.