Lieberman Accuses Eisenkot of Personal Ambition, Not National Interest
Translated & summarized from Hamal by baba
Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, accused Gadi Eisenkot of "Benny Gantz 2" and personal ambition, claiming Eisenkot seeks to negotiate with Netanyahu after the election. Lieberman criticized Eisenkot's conscription proposals and potential reliance on Arab parties, stating his own party's commitment to universal service and refusal to partner with parties supporting anti-Israel actions. He urged a strong majority for a liberal government to prevent Eisenkot from aiding Netanyahu's re-election.
The story in 7 lines · by baba
- Avigdor Lieberman accused Gadi Eisenkot of being "Benny Gantz 2" and pursuing personal ambition.
- Lieberman claims Eisenkot's campaign aims to draw votes from within the serving bloc, not from draft dodgers.
- Eisenkot is accused of planning to negotiate with Netanyahu from a position of strength after the election.
- Lieberman criticized Eisenkot's conscription deferral plans and potential coalition with Arab parties.
- Yisrael Beiteinu will not join a government dependent on Ra'am or the Joint List, Lieberman stated.
- Lieberman urged the serving bloc to secure a majority to prevent Eisenkot from helping Netanyahu.
- Lieberman compared Eisenkot's political inexperience to that of former IDF chiefs who entered politics.
Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, sharply criticized Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the "Yashar!" party, on Friday, stating, "Gadi Eisenkot is Benny Gantz 2." Lieberman alleged that Eisenkot's "big party" campaign is not aimed at shifting votes from those who avoid military service to those who serve, but rather at drawing votes from within the serving bloc itself. He claimed this contradicts agreements made by bloc leaders on September 26, harms unity, and suggests Eisenkot is planning for the post-election period.
According to Lieberman, Eisenkot's goal is not to be the largest party within the serving bloc, but to surpass the Likud and negotiate from a position of strength for government formation with Netanyahu. Lieberman cited comments from Minister Miki Zohar about potential cooperation with Eisenkot, reports of President Herzog's initiative for a Netanyahu-Eisenkot government, and briefings from the White House as evidence that these elements are aligning. He also pointed to Eisenkot's stances on conscription and constitutional issues, including a proposal to defer up to 3% of conscripts annually and establish a directorate to determine who qualifies as a Torah scholar, which Lieberman believes would maintain the exemption from IDF service for yeshiva students. Lieberman contrasted this with Yisrael Beiteinu's consistent stance for universal conscription and a constitution for Israel, noting the party refused to join a coalition in 2019 over the conscription law.
Lieberman also addressed potential coalition partners, stating Yisrael Beiteinu will not sit in a government dependent on Ra'am or the Joint List, either directly or indirectly, citing past actions by MKs Ofer Cassif and Yasser Hijrat. Cassif signed a petition supporting South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, while Hijrat reportedly questioned whether Hamas is a terrorist organization. Lieberman concluded that Eisenkot is aiming to form a government with Netanyahu, Goldknopf, and Der'i, keeping a minority government option open as leverage against Netanyahu for the rotation premiership. He expressed concern that Eisenkot's actions stem more from personal ambition than a genuine desire to rectify the "injustices of the draft dodger government."
Lieberman urged the four parties in the serving bloc to secure a solid majority to form a Zionist and liberal government, preventing Eisenkot from helping Netanyahu again. He drew parallels between Eisenkot's political inexperience and that of former IDF chiefs of staff like Yigal Yadin, Ehud Barak, and Benny Gantz, noting that military experience does not substitute for political experience, even citing Yitzhak Rabin's need for time to regain political footing after his first term as prime minister. Lieberman expressed belief in the Israeli public, the serving bloc, and a decisive victory on October 27 to replace what he called the worst government in Israel's history with a responsible, liberal, and Zionist leadership.
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