Israel Beiteinu Slams Eisenkot Over Coalition Talks, Election Strategy
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party is clashing with Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan over coalition strategies and election tactics ahead of the upcoming vote. Yisrael Beiteinu accuses Eisenkot of potentially seeking a coalition with Arab parties and of "drinking" votes from within their bloc. Lieberman insists on a Zionist-only coalition, excluding Ra'am, Hadash-Ta'al, Shas, and United Torah Judaism, but is open to a Likud partnership without Netanyahu. The Likud party criticized Lieberman's stance, calling it hypocritical.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Yisrael Beiteinu accuses Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan of potentially forming a coalition with Ra'am and Agudat Yisrael.
- Oded Forer claims Eisenkot's "Big Party" campaign is aggressively taking votes from within the change bloc.
- Avigdor Lieberman insists on forming a Zionist-only coalition, excluding Ra'am, Hadash-Ta'al, Shas, and United Torah Judaism.
- Lieberman expressed openness to a coalition with the Likud party, provided Benjamin Netanyahu is not its leader.
- The Likud party criticized Lieberman, accusing him of hypocrisy regarding past coalition deals and Arab party support.
- The dispute occurs less than two weeks before the elections, despite prior agreements to avoid internal attacks.
Tensions are escalating within the "change bloc" of Israeli opposition parties less than two weeks before the upcoming elections, with Yisrael Beiteinu accusing Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan of potentially seeking a coalition with the United Arab List (Ra'am) and Agudat Yisrael.
Oded Forer, a member of Yisrael Beiteinu, stated that his party proposed a joint declaration committing to a coalition with Zionist parties only. However, he claims Eisenkot and Golan's teams countered with a commitment to a "serving coalition," which would include parties supporting military or civil service. Forer questioned if this was a hint at a deal with Ra'am, whose leader Mansour Abbas supports civil service for Israeli Arabs, and warned of a "red carpet" being laid behind their backs.
Forer also criticized Eisenkot's "Big Party" campaign, alleging it aims to siphon votes from within the change bloc, contrary to prior agreements. "He is starting to drink our mandates with a straw," Forer declared, vowing to retaliate if Eisenkot continues this aggressive tactic. This dispute comes after opposition leaders signed a principles document in late September pledging not to attack coalition partners.
Meanwhile, Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, reiterated his party's stance on forming a future government. "We will establish a coalition composed of Zionist parties only. No Ra'am, no Hadash-Ta'al, no Shas, and no United Torah Judaism," he stated. Lieberman also indicated a willingness to partner with the Likud party, but only if Benjamin Netanyahu is not its leader, claiming some Likud Knesset members would join a Zionist coalition.
The Likud party responded by accusing Lieberman of hypocrisy, recalling his past coalition with Mansour Abbas and financial support for Islamic charities. They also asserted that neither Eisenkot nor Lieberman can form a government without Yair Golan and Arab parties.
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