Lapid to Host Opposition Leaders to Coordinate Strategy

Opposition leader Yair Lapid announced Tuesday that he will host the leaders of the "change bloc" at his Tel Aviv home this coming Saturday night. The meeting is intended to "coordinate joint steps going forward." Attendees will include former Prime Minister and "Bayad” chair Naftali Bennett, "Yashar" chair Gadi Eisenkot, "Yisrael Beiteinu" chair Avigdor Lieberman, and "HaDemocratim" chair Yair Golan.

The gathering comes amid internal friction within the bloc. Last week, Eisenkot criticized Bennett and Lieberman, stating they were "harming the bloc's chances of winning" by refusing to establish foundational principles for selecting a prime ministerial candidate. Eisenkot argued against the idea of deciding the prime minister after the election, saying, "I think these statements, that 'we'll enter a room the day after, do a "poyleshtik" and decide who the prime minister is,' is unacceptable."

In response, Yisrael Beiteinu stated, "Avigdor Lieberman has no ego and has experience, and experience teaches that one must not show pressure at any stage. Yisrael Beiteinu is committed to establishing a Zionist government, without Netanyahu, the Arab and Haredi parties, that will pass a conscription law for everyone without quotas, targets, or exemptions for anyone, and will establish a state commission of inquiry as the first decision in the next government. What's important is to strengthen the serving bloc and establish a stable government. It would be very advisable for Gadi Eisenkot to clarify clearly to the public who his partners are the day after the elections."