Lieberman Accuses Eisenkot of Seeking Government with Netanyahu
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Avigdor Lieberman fiercely criticized Gadi Eisenkot, accusing him of aiming to form a government with Benjamin Netanyahu and other parties. Lieberman alleged Eisenkot is using the threat of a minority government for personal gain and criticized his political inexperience. Eisenkot responded by urging voters to ignore "spin" and focus on achieving change, warning against politicians prioritizing personal interests. Benny Gantz also weighed in, criticizing Lieberman's political record and current tactics.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Avigdor Lieberman accused Gadi Eisenkot of seeking to form a government with Benjamin Netanyahu.
- Lieberman claimed Eisenkot is using a minority government option as leverage for the premiership.
- Eisenkot urged Israelis seeking change to ignore "spin" and focus on achieving victory.
- Benny Gantz criticized Lieberman's political achievements compared to his and Eisenkot's.
- Eisenkot's party is campaigning as the "largest party" to secure the government mandate.
- Shaul Meridor explained the strategy to ensure Eisenkot gets the mandate before Netanyahu.
Lieberman alleged that Eisenkot is keeping the option of a minority government open as leverage to become prime minister first in a rotation. He criticized Eisenkot's stance on conscription, noting that Eisenkot had previously described Shas as a party with broad Zionist components.
Lieberman further claimed that Eisenkot's ambition is to be the largest party in the bloc and negotiate from a position of strength with Netanyahu, rather than genuinely seeking to rectify the injustices of the current government. He argued that Eisenkot's "largest party" campaign is designed to draw votes from within the change bloc, contradicting agreements made by bloc leaders on September 26th.
Drawing parallels to former military leaders who entered politics, Lieberman stated that military experience does not substitute for political experience, citing Yigal Allon, Ehud Barak, and Benny Gantz as examples, and noting that even Yitzhak Rabin needed time to regain political footing after his first term as prime minister.
In response, Eisenkot urged Israelis seeking change to ignore "spin" and focus on the "great victory" they will bring to Israel. He stated that his party is working to attract voters tired of the Netanyahu government's conduct, aiming for a clear majority of over 61 seats for change. Eisenkot warned that the Israeli people will not forgive politicians who prioritize personal interests over the national hour, especially after the heavy prices paid since October 7th, and vowed that change is coming, urging people not to be distracted by "background noise."
Benny Gantz commented that Lieberman has accomplished less for Israel than he and Eisenkot have, suggesting Lieberman is acting out of pressure since Gantz exposed his plan for a minority government with other parties. Gantz asserted that Lieberman's attacks would not hide the dead end he is leading Israel toward.
News 12 previously reported that Eisenkot's party was shifting strategy to campaign as the "largest party." Senior official Shaul Meridor explained this was to ensure Eisenkot receives the mandate to form a government before Netanyahu does, preventing a scenario where Netanyahu could exploit a transition government. Meridor also suggested that a significant lead for Yisrael could sway Likud voters, emphasizing the need for a functional government, unlike previous instances where the forming party was not the largest.
Mentioned
