Bennett, Liberman Discuss Strategy to Sway Voters from Netanyahu

Naftali Bennett, leader of the "Habayit Hayehudi" party, and Avigdor Liberman, head of "Yisrael Beiteinu," met privately this week to strategize on how to shift votes from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc to the "change bloc." A key point of discussion was their frustration with Gadi Eisenkot's perceived lack of a definitive stance against the Arab party Ra'am, which they fear is hindering the change bloc's progress in opinion polls and potential election victory.

Sources close to Bennett and Liberman indicated that one proposal discussed was a pre-election commitment not to form a government with Mansour Abbas's party. This would serve as a message to Eisenkot. However, Bennett's office issued a statement calling the report "an absolute lie" and denying the topic was raised. Liberman's office stated he is not discussing government formation until after the elections.

Earlier on Thursday, Eisenkot criticized Bennett and Liberman, asserting they were harming the change bloc's chances of winning. He argued in an interview with Kan News that both were mistaken for not establishing fundamental principles for selecting the next prime minister. Eisenkot also noted that the bloc is currently more organized than in previous elections due to "four homogeneous parties."

In response to Eisenkot's remarks, Yisrael Beiteinu demanded clarity on his potential partners after the election. The party reiterated its commitment to forming a "Zionist government" without Netanyahu, Arab parties, or ultra-Orthodox parties. Their platform includes passing a universal draft law, and establishing a state inquiry commission as a first act. Yisrael Beiteinu emphasized the importance of strengthening the "serving bloc" and forming a stable government, suggesting Eisenkot should clarify his own post-election alliances.