Lieberman Rules Out Minority Government, Closes Door on Eisenkot's Plan
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, declared he will not support any minority government, rejecting Gadi Eisenkot's plan for such a scenario if the "change bloc" falls short of 61 seats. Lieberman stated he would only form a coalition of "Zionist parties" and suggested the Likud party without Netanyahu could be a partner. Eisenkot's plan, revealed in July, hinged on a universal draft law and avoided negotiations with Arab or Haredi parties.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Avigdor Lieberman will not support any minority government, even for a transition period.
- Lieberman's stance blocks Gadi Eisenkot's plan for a minority government if the change bloc lacks 61 mandates.
- Lieberman stated he would form a coalition of "Zionist parties only," excluding Ra'am, the Joint List, Shas, and United Torah Judaism.
- Lieberman suggested the Likud party, without Netanyahu, could be a significant partner.
- Eisenkot's plan required a universal draft law and no negotiations with Arab or Haredi parties.
- Leaders of the change bloc decided to determine the prime ministerial candidate only after the elections.
Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, announced Thursday that he will not support any minority government, effectively blocking a potential plan by Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of Yesh Atid, should the "change bloc" fail to secure 61 mandates. Lieberman stated, "We will not support any minority government, not even for a transition period." He clarified in a post on X that he would only form a coalition composed of "Zionist parties only - without Ra'am, without the Joint List, without Shas, and without United Torah Judaism." Lieberman also suggested that "the Likud without Netanyahu could be a significant partner."
Lieberman's remarks come amid growing disagreements within the change bloc. Although Eisenkot had hoped for agreed-upon rules to determine the bloc's prime ministerial candidate, Lieberman and Bennett opposed this, and the bloc's leaders decided at a meeting in Lapid's home to address the issue only after the elections. Yesh Atid has launched a new campaign aiming to grow its support, even at the expense of other parties in the change bloc, emphasizing the importance of being the largest party to receive the mandate to form a government.
Eisenkot's minority government plan, revealed in late July, was designed for a scenario where the change bloc falls short of 61 mandates. The plan's core condition is a universal draft or national service law. Furthermore, Eisenkot committed to conducting no negotiations with Arab or Haredi parties regarding abstentions or support without meeting the prerequisite conditions. His strategy aimed to present Arab Knesset members with a direct public dilemma, forcing them to explain to their constituents whether their opposition would result in Itamar Ben-Gvir remaining in government and Benjamin Netanyahu in office.
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