Lieberman and Golan Clash on Future Government at Haifa Conference

At a conference in Haifa, politicians Avigdor Lieberman and Yair Golan presented starkly different visions for Israel's next government, particularly regarding potential coalition partners and key policy issues.

Lieberman declared that he would not partner with Abbas, stating, "We have enough of the Shas party for the Jews." He also stipulated that mandatory military or civil service for all citizens, regardless of religion or ethnicity, would be a non-negotiable condition for forming a future coalition. Lieberman criticized the current government for prioritizing coalition maintenance and sectoral interests over broader considerations, emphasizing that the upcoming election's true choice is between service and evasion.

Golan, conversely, suggested that partnering with Abbas could be a viable option if it facilitated the formation of an alternative government and kept the current coalition out of power. He envisioned a scenario where an anti-Netanyahu bloc could secure 57 seats, with Ra'am receiving six, making cooperation with Abbas justifiable given his past participation in the previous government. Golan stressed the importance of Jewish-Arab partnership for all citizens and called for political courage, though he firmly rejected any partnership with the Haredi parties, stating, "We will not sit with the Haredi. We came to fix."

Both politicians addressed the issue of Haredi enlistment. Lieberman insisted on universal service as a prerequisite for government formation, proposing two tracks: military or civil service, with the latter under the Defense Ministry's purview. Golan also saw equal enlistment as a potential area of agreement for a future government, alongside other issues like establishing a state inquiry commission, combating corruption in public service, and rehabilitating the north and western Negev.

Golan set an electoral target of 15 seats or more for his Democratic Party, aiming to be the second-largest party in the next coalition to safeguard Israel's democratic and liberal character. Lieberman, meanwhile, focused on achieving 63 to 64 seats for the bloc aiming to replace Netanyahu, urging voters to participate and avoid splitting votes among parties that might not pass the electoral threshold. He also proposed drafting a constitution to regulate religion-state relations, the branches of government, and fundamental values, to be developed by experts and approved by referendum.

On foreign policy, Lieberman advocated for regime change in Iran, arguing that targeting nuclear facilities alone was insufficient while the current leadership remained in power. Golan prioritized dismantling Iran's military nuclear program, viewing military actions as subservient to this strategic goal and questioning the feasibility of regime change. Regarding the war, Lieberman stressed the need to know how to end military operations, defining clear objectives for each front to avoid endless cycles of conflict. He suggested coordinating with Sunni, Christian, and Druze elements in Lebanon opposed to Hezbollah, with regional support from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, aiming to eliminate Hezbollah and its infrastructure. Golan emphasized the need for regional diplomatic and security initiatives to resolve conflicts, proposing an alternative governance to Hamas in Gaza, combating Palestinian and Jewish terrorism, enforcing law in the West Bank, removing illegal outposts, and fostering regional security cooperation.