Lieberman Accuses Eisenkot of Plotting Government with Netanyahu
Translated & summarized from Al-Shams by baba
Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, accused Gadi Eisenkot of Hayehudim of planning to form a government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and ultra-Orthodox parties. Lieberman suggested Eisenkot's campaign aims to strengthen his party and secure a stronger negotiating position post-election. He cited statements from Miki Zohar and reports about President Herzog's initiative as evidence. The accusations reveal growing internal competition among parties opposing Netanyahu.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Avigdor Lieberman accused Gadi Eisenkot of planning a government with Benjamin Netanyahu and ultra-Orthodox parties.
- Lieberman believes Eisenkot's campaign aims to strengthen his party and gain leverage in negotiations.
- He cited statements from Miki Zohar and reports about President Herzog's initiative as supporting evidence.
- Lieberman warned that internal competition could harm the unity of parties opposing Netanyahu.
- The accusations highlight escalating rivalry and disputes over strategy among opposition parties.
Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has intensified his criticism of Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Hayehudim party, accusing him of planning to form a government in partnership with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the ultra-Orthodox parties. Lieberman made these accusations in a lengthy post on the social media platform X on Friday, questioning the objectives of Eisenkot's election campaign. He suggested that Eisenkot's campaign is not aimed at attracting voters from the opposing camp but rather at strengthening his own party at the expense of others within the same bloc.
Lieberman asserted that Eisenkot aims to enter coalition negotiations from a position of strength. He believes Eisenkot intends to form a government that includes Netanyahu, Yitzhak Goldknopf of United Torah Judaism, and Aryeh Deri of Shas. Simultaneously, Lieberman suggested, Eisenkot might be keeping the option of a minority government open as leverage against Netanyahu during political negotiations. Lieberman argued that Eisenkot's campaign slogan, "the largest party," is designed to draw votes from parties within his own political camp, not from those who oppose military service.
He stated that this approach contradicts understandings reached by bloc leaders during a meeting on September 26, warning that internal competition could undermine the unity of parties opposing Netanyahu. Lieberman also pointed to recent statements by Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar about potential cooperation with Eisenkot, and media reports concerning an initiative by Israeli President Isaac Herzog regarding a potential government uniting Netanyahu and Eisenkot. He also referenced White House briefings and positions held by Eisenkot's associates on conscription and constitutional issues, all of which he believes raise questions about Eisenkot's post-election political direction.
Lieberman's statements highlight the escalating rivalry among leaders of parties seeking to challenge Netanyahu in the upcoming elections. The dispute centers on the distribution of votes within the opposition bloc and the nature of a potential post-election government. Lieberman framed the conflict as a debate over whether the electoral competition should aim to broaden the base of the anti-Netanyahu bloc or to bolster a specific party's strength for future political negotiations that might include parties from the opposing camp.
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