Lieberman Accuses Eisenkot of Plotting to Form Government with Netanyahu

Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, launched a sharp political attack on Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the National Unity Party, accusing him of undermining opposition unity and plotting to form a government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Aryeh Deri, and Yitzhak Goldknopf. Lieberman warned that Eisenkot might use the possibility of a minority government to secure a rotation in the premiership.

In a lengthy post titled "Gadi Eisenkot - Benny Gantz 2," Lieberman claimed Eisenkot's "Big Party" campaign is designed not to draw votes from Netanyahu's bloc but to siphon votes from within his own bloc. He asserted this move contradicts agreements made by party leaders on September 26. Lieberman alleged that Eisenkot's post-election plan is to emerge larger than the Likud party and negotiate government formation with Netanyahu from a position of strength.

Lieberman cited comments by Minister Miki Zohar about potential cooperation with Eisenkot, reports of President Isaac Herzog's initiative for a Netanyahu-Eisenkot government, and alleged White House briefings as evidence for his suspicions. He also criticized Eisenkot's stance on the conscription of Haredi men, stating that Eisenkot's proposal to defer service for thousands of yeshiva students annually would not significantly change the status quo, thus failing to abolish the exemption from IDF service. Lieberman reiterated Yisrael Beiteinu's opposition to such exemptions and its support for universal conscription, recalling the party's refusal to join the coalition in 2019 over the conscription law.

Furthermore, Lieberman declared that Yisrael Beiteinu would not join a government reliant on the support of Arab parties like Ra'am or the Joint List, even if their support was external. He specifically mentioned MK Ofer Cassif's support for a case against Israel at The Hague and MK Yasser Hijrat's remarks about Hamas as reasons for his stance. Lieberman presented his feared scenario: Eisenkot aiming to form a government with Netanyahu, Goldknopf, and Deri, keeping the minority government option open as leverage for a rotation.

Lieberman also critiqued Eisenkot's political inexperience, comparing him to former IDF chiefs of staff like Yigal Yadin, Ehud Barak, and Benny Gantz, suggesting military rank does not substitute for political acumen. He urged the four opposition parties to secure a majority independent of Eisenkot to form a "Zionist and liberal" government focused on the serving and working public, expressing confidence in an election victory on October 27.

Benny Gantz responded, stating Lieberman had achieved less than 10% of what he and Eisenkot had done for Israel. Gantz accused Lieberman of being under pressure and lashing out in all directions since Gantz exposed Lieberman's plan for a minority government with Bennett and Arab parties. Gantz asserted that Lieberman's attacks would not hide the deadlock he was leading Israel into, proposing a cross-bloc Zionist unity government led by the National Unity Party as the only solution.