Ultra-Orthodox Party Offers Support to Eisenkot for Prime Minister

By שילֹה פריד

Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba

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Hebrew · 3 newsrooms covering

United Torah Judaism plans to offer support to Gadi Eisenkot for prime minister, demanding a draft exemption law as a condition. A senior UTJ official stated this, but sources close to UTJ chairman Yaakov Asher deny current contacts. Eisenkot's bloc currently lacks a coalition, and he has previously opposed draft exemptions, as have other potential coalition partners like Avigdor Lieberman and Naftali Bennett. Shas, a key potential partner, has seen a significant drop in its electoral support.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

United Torah Judaism will offer Gadi Eisenkot support for prime minister if he grants draft exemption.
Eisenkot's bloc currently holds 48 mandates, insufficient for a coalition without ultra-Orthodox support.
Eisenkot and potential partners have previously opposed draft exemption laws.
Shas party has seen a significant decline in its electoral support compared to previous elections.
Sources close to UTJ chairman Yaakov Asher deny current coalition talks.

Ultra-Orthodox Party Offers Support to Eisenkot for Prime Minister — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

United Torah Judaism (UTJ) is planning to offer its support to Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the National Unity party, to form a government, with a draft exemption from military service as the primary condition. A senior UTJ official confirmed this to ynet, stating that Eisenkot has the option to form a government with Benjamin Netanyahu, but would then serve as a senior minister. "We are giving him the premiership. It's better than being number two or having repeat elections," the official said.

However, sources close to Yaakov Asher, chairman of UTJ, stated that "currently there are no contacts with anyone. We will wait for the election results and consult with the great rabbis who will decide." As of now, Eisenkot's bloc holds 48 mandates, and even with UTJ's 7 mandates, he does not yet have a coalition. The ultra-Orthodox parties aim to be kingmakers, but without Shas, Eisenkot cannot form a government with their support.

Furthermore, members of Eisenkot's bloc and Eisenkot himself have repeatedly expressed opposition to a draft exemption law. Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, has completely ruled out sitting with the ultra-Orthodox, and Naftali Bennett, chairman of the Yamina party, also spoke out against them during the election campaign.

During the campaign, Eisenkot outlined four conditions for a party to join his government: recognition of a Jewish and democratic state, the Declaration of Independence, mandatory service, and recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization to be destroyed. He clarified at the time that, in his view, no ultra-Orthodox or Arab party met these criteria.

Shas, according to updated results, has secured six mandates, a figure not seen since 1992. In the previous Knesset, Shas won 11 mandates, a significant number that granted it several government ministries until it left Netanyahu's government over the failure to legislate a draft exemption. Shas lost approximately 100,000 votes compared to the previous election, with significant drops in support observed in Jerusalem, El'ad, Modi'in Illit, Bnei Brak, and traditional strongholds.

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