Lieberman's 'No Bloc' Declaration Shakes Israeli Opposition
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Avigdor Lieberman declared the opposition "bloc" is defunct, criticizing the idea of a minority government supported by Arab parties. Analysts Avi Mimran and Ofer Inbar discussed the fragmentation within the opposition, suggesting internal conflicts are aiding the right-wing bloc. They believe the current infighting points towards a political stalemate, with the ultra-Orthodox parties awaiting rabbinical directives for action.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Avigdor Lieberman declared the opposition "bloc" is defunct, criticizing a minority government supported by Arab parties.
- Analysts believe Lieberman is willing to risk another election to become prime minister.
- The opposition's internal conflicts are seen as inadvertently aiding the right-wing bloc.
- A minority government relying on Arab party abstentions is considered unpopular with the public.
- Ultra-Orthodox parties are criticized for lacking grassroots mobilization and substantive campaigns.
- Analysts predict the current situation will lead to a political stalemate or "a draw."
Avigdor Lieberman's declaration that there is no longer a unified "bloc" within the opposition, particularly his opposition to a minority government supported by Arab parties, has sparked significant criticism and analysis among political commentators. Analysts Avi Mimran and Ofer Inbar discussed the potential fragmentation of the "change bloc" and its implications for forming a future government.
Inbar stated that Lieberman's "torpedo bomb" declaration, "there is no bloc," highlights a deep division, suggesting that internal squabbles over party size indicate a lack of confidence in winning. He believes Lieberman is willing to risk another election to achieve the premiership, comparing it to Naftali Bennett's previous move. Inbar also questioned the viability of Gadi Eisenkot forming a minority government, especially one relying on abstentions from Arab parties, a move he feels is unpopular with the Israeli public and would not serve Eisenkot's long-term political goals.
Mimran noted that the ultra-Orthodox parties lack grassroots mobilization, despite having ample material from opposition figures to use against rivals. He expressed confusion over this lack of public awakening, which he sees as the current distress for these parties. Inbar added that the ultra-Orthodox parties will ultimately follow their rabbis' directives, even if it means last-minute voting, but criticized the lack of substantive campaigning, relying instead on AI-generated humorous videos.
Both analysts agreed that the opposition's infighting is inadvertently aiding the right-wing bloc, with Mimran suggesting the opposition is "killing and eating each other." They concluded that the current situation points towards a political stalemate or "a draw."
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