Opposition Leaders Meet to Coordinate Strategy Ahead of Elections

Leaders of Israel's "change bloc" opposition factions convened Saturday evening at the Tel Aviv home of opposition leader Yair Lapid, marking their first meeting in months. The gathering included Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Golan, and was aimed at coordinating the bloc's moves and boosting its electoral prospects. The meeting was not expected to result in a decision on who would lead the bloc.

Yair Golan is expected to propose joint initiatives such as dividing work and voter bases, coordinated election day preparations, establishing teams for government formation and the first 100 days in office, and holding regular joint events, particularly focusing on the aftermath of October 7th. Outside the meeting, a truck from Benny Gantz's National Unity party displayed a banner criticizing the bloc for "stalling Israel," while protesters called for either a "a Kahanist government or a Jewish-Arab partnership."

Gadi Eisenkot, who had pushed for the renewed meetings, stated that the "essence of the meeting is how to win the elections." He contrasted the current meeting's purpose with the potential for a Netanyahu-led government, including figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir as designated defense minister, which he said should focus the opposition's efforts.

The meeting followed a sharp dispute between bloc leaders about two weeks prior. Eisenkot had criticized Bennett and Lieberman for not establishing clear criteria for selecting a joint candidate for prime minister, arguing it harmed the bloc's chances. He also critiqued the previous "change government" led by Bennett with only six mandates, stating Lapid, who led the bloc with 17 mandates at the time, should have been prime minister.

Avigdor Lieberman had previously expressed a desire for unity, stating, "I want us all to win together." He cautioned against a repeat of the last election where Lapid ran as the sole opposition candidate, leading to his party's gains but subsequent internal friction. Lieberman emphasized the need to move beyond discussions of who is first or second, while his party added that Eisenkot should clarify his post-election partners. Yair Golan urged unity, stating, "Our only mission is to save the country together from the government of massacre, evasion, and abandonment."