Minister Strock Responds to Claims of Coalition Recruitment Attempts
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Minister Orit Strock clarified her call to a member of Gadi Eisenkot's "Yashar" party, stating it was to offer congratulations, not to recruit for coalition talks. Eisenkot's party had accused Strock and other Likud figures of pressuring their members amid complex post-election coalition negotiations. Both Strock and other Likud members denied any improper contact, while the Likud party accused Eisenkot's faction of disrupting coalition plans. The political maneuvering occurs as the current coalition has a slim majority and opposition parties seek to form a government.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Minister Orit Strock clarified a call to a "Yashar" party member was for congratulations, not coalition recruitment.
- Eisenkot's "Yashar" party accused Strock and Likud figures of pressuring their members.
- Almog Cohen and Yaakov Bardugo denied contacting members of Eisenkot's party.
- The Likud party accused Eisenkot's faction of disrupting coalition formation plans.
- Coalition negotiations are intense due to the current government's slim 53-seat majority.
- United Torah Judaism may offer a "safety net" for Eisenkot's bloc.
Minister Orit Strock of the Religious Zionism party responded Saturday evening to accusations from Gadi Eisenkot's party that she attempted to contact their Knesset members as part of coalition-building efforts. Strock did not deny making contact but clarified her intentions, stating she called Tal Ohana, a candidate in Eisenkot's party, to congratulate her on entering the Knesset. Strock explained that she and Ohana work together on rehabilitating northern border communities and had recently corresponded about a new initiative. She expressed her affection for Ohana and her belief that their friendship would not be damaged by the incident.
The accusations surfaced after Eisenkot's party, referred to as "Yashar" (meaning "straight" or "honest"), issued a statement alleging that individuals were being sent to recruit their members, drawing parallels to past negotiations. They specifically mentioned Strock's call, sarcastically advising to "drink cold water even on an autumn evening."
Earlier, Eisenkot's party claimed that a "hysteria" was evident within the Likud party, involving calls to "Yashar" members from ministers and designated Knesset members, including Almog Cohen, Yogev Kish, and Yaakov Bardugo. They reiterated their commitment to implementing the public's decision and forming a "Zionist government" for all Israelis.
Knesset Member Yaakov Bardugo denied contacting anyone from Eisenkot's party. Almog Cohen also strongly refuted the claims on X, calling them "pure fake news" and accusing Eisenkot's party of being loyal to the Muslim Brotherhood. The Likud party responded officially, accusing Gadi Eisenkot and his party of being under pressure and disrupting plans to cooperate with parties supporting terrorism.
The political tension arises from the complex post-election landscape, with the current coalition holding 53 seats and the opposition bloc at 48. Intense negotiations are underway to form a government, with Eisenkot setting four principles for any future coalition partner. A potential move involves United Torah Judaism providing a "safety net" for Eisenkot, which would reduce Netanyahu's bloc to 46 seats and increase Eisenkot's to 55, in exchange for an agreed-upon conscription law and settlement of yeshiva students' status.
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