Democrats Prepare to Prevent Unity Government Post-Election

The Democratic Party is preparing for the possibility that Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yahadut (Yesh) party, and other leaders of the "change bloc" will seek to form a unity government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The party plans to exert public pressure on Knesset members to prevent such a move. Party Director-General Omer Lubi Granot held a Zoom call with field activists on Friday, urging them to prepare not only for the election campaign but also for the period after the polls close.

Granot warned that discussions about a unity government with Netanyahu would intensify immediately after the exit polls are released. He called on activists to identify Knesset members from the change bloc parties who might support a unity government and to pressure them publicly. He suggested creating lists of members from the parties of Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Lieberman, and Gadi Eisenkot, and approaching them directly, stating that the public voted for change and wants a government that will save Israel.

The Democratic Party's preparations come amid rising tensions among change bloc party leaders. Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, accused Eisenkot of seeking to form a government with Netanyahu, Goldknopf, and Deri. Lieberman claimed in a post that Eisenkot is planning for the post-election period with the aim of gaining leverage in coalition negotiations, not necessarily to be the largest party in the bloc, but to be larger than Likud and negotiate from a position of strength to form a government with Netanyahu. Lieberman suggested that the possibility of a minority government is being used as a pressure tactic to secure the premiership for Eisenkot in a rotation.

Lieberman also criticized Eisenkot's "largest party" campaign, asserting it aims to draw votes from other parties within the bloc, contradicting agreements made by bloc leaders. He compared Eisenkot's political ambitions to those of former IDF Chiefs of Staff like Yigal Yadin, Ehud Barak, and Benny Gantz, arguing that military experience does not substitute for political experience.

Eisenkot dismissed Lieberman's attack, urging citizens who desire change to stay focused. He emphasized the need for composure and focus during this historic moment, rather than engaging in political disputes. Eisenkot stated he is working to attract voters disillusioned with the current government, aiming for over 61 seats for the change bloc. He criticized Lieberman for focusing on internal disagreements instead of the shared goal of replacing the government, warning that politicians who prioritize personal interests over the national need will not be forgiven by the public. Eisenkot pledged that change is coming and urged the public to ignore political spin and focus on victory.