Lieberman Accuses Eisenkot of Seeking Coalition with Netanyahu

Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has accused Gadi Eisenkot, head of the HaMahane HaMamlachti party, of attempting to form a government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, escalating tensions within the opposition ahead of Israeli elections. Lieberman claimed on the platform X that Eisenkot's campaign to make HaMahane HaMamlachti the largest party aims to draw votes from opposition allies rather than government supporters. He asserted that this action violates agreements made by opposition leaders during a September 26 meeting. Lieberman wrote that Eisenkot's priority is to make his party larger than the Likud party to negotiate from a position of strength for forming a government with Netanyahu. Lieberman also accused Eisenkot of seeking to establish a coalition that includes Netanyahu's ultra-Orthodox allies. He likened Eisenkot to "Benny Gantz 2," suggesting military experience does not equate to political acumen. Gantz, a former military chief, joined a unity government with Netanyahu in 2020 despite campaigning to oust him. Lieberman's attack followed his statement on Thursday rejecting support for a minority government, even temporarily, in response to a proposal by Eisenkot if the opposition failed to secure a parliamentary majority. Lieberman indicated that the Likud party might be a coalition partner if Netanyahu were out of the picture. Eisenkot had previously rejected any role for Netanyahu in the government, after Naftali Bennett hinted at Netanyahu potentially serving as a minister under certain conditions. Eisenkot emphasized that officials in leadership positions during the October 7 attack are unfit for high office. Following this, Bennett also ruled out working alongside Netanyahu.