Opposition Leaders to Meet After Public Spat to Coordinate Strategy

Leaders of Israel's "Change Bloc" opposition parties will convene at the home of opposition leader Yair Lapid this coming Saturday night to coordinate their political moves. The meeting comes after a public dispute last week where MK Gadi Eisenkot accused MKs Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman of harming the bloc's chances of winning the next election by not agreeing on a candidate for prime minister.

Eisenkot, speaking on Kan Reshet Bet radio, criticized Bennett and Lieberman for not establishing rules to select a joint candidate. He also faulted the previous "Change Government" for appointing Bennett as prime minister with only six seats, arguing that Lapid, who led the bloc with 17 seats at the time, should have received the premiership.

In response to Eisenkot's remarks, Lieberman quipped that Eisenkot himself should clarify his potential coalition partners after the election. A recent poll indicates that 59% of "Change Bloc" voters view Eisenkot as the bloc's de facto leader, compared to 19% for Bennett and 11% for Lieberman. In terms of suitability for prime minister, Eisenkot garnered 53% support, Bennett 31%, and Lieberman 13%.

The poll also revealed that 52% of opposition supporters believe the internal conflict among the bloc's leaders is detrimental to their electoral prospects. When asked about the primary criterion for selecting a candidate, 65% favored the highest number of Knesset seats, while only 25% prioritized political experience.