Analyst Predicts Bennett May Shift Stance If Government Formation Fails
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Strategic advisor Eitan Zeliger predicts Naftali Bennett may change his political stance if government formation efforts by Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot fail. Zeliger criticized party leaders for not forming a unity government and warned against repeat elections, which he believes won't change the political map. He also criticized reserve duty organizations for their silence on the conscription law during coalition talks. Zeliger suggested Bennett might again offer to lead a government to break the deadlock, as he did in 2019.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Analyst Eitan Zeliger believes Naftali Bennett may shift his position if government formation fails.
- Zeliger urges a unity government and criticizes parties for not acknowledging election results.
- He warns against repeat elections, stating they won't resolve the political deadlock.
- Zeliger criticizes reserve duty organizations for their silence on the conscription law.
- He suggests Bennett might offer to lead a government to break the political stalemate.
Strategic advisor Eitan Zeliger believes former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett might change his political position if Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot fail to form a government. In an interview with Arutz 7, Zeliger advocated for a unity government and criticized reserve duty organizations for their silence on conscription, warning against repeat elections that would not alter the political landscape.
Zeliger, a co-founder of the Fourth Quarter movement, suggested that the current political stalemate following the recent Knesset elections could lead to a surprising move by Naftali Bennett. He criticized party leaders for continuing the previous election campaign or preparing for new elections instead of acknowledging that no single bloc can form a government independently. Zeliger emphasized that the public elected officials to manage the country, not to repeatedly send them back to the polls.
He also directed criticism at politicians like Avigdor Lieberman, Yair Golan, and Itamar Ben-Gvir, arguing they haven't grasped the election results' implications and are still thinking in campaign terms rather than the need for a functioning government. Zeliger drew a parallel to 1984, when President Chaim Herzog urged Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Shamir to form a unity government despite deep animosity, suggesting Netanyahu and Eisenkot could also find common ground for a broad coalition.
Zeliger proposed a potential government including Naftali Bennett and Bezalel Smotrich, which could secure 66 Knesset members and ensure a balanced power distribution. However, he sharply criticized reserve duty organizations and equality movements for their lack of public pressure on political leaders regarding the conscription law, especially during sensitive coalition negotiations. He warned that compromising on this issue immediately after elections would question the credibility of elected officials.
Furthermore, Zeliger dismissed hopes that new elections would break the political deadlock, citing the repeated elections since 2019 that failed to significantly shift the balance between blocs. He estimated the right bloc, led by Netanyahu, struggles to exceed 55-56 mandates, indicating a persistent division with no clear path to forming a government. Zeliger concluded by analyzing Bennett's strategic decision to recommend Eisenkot, suggesting Bennett might alter his stance if coalition efforts fail, recalling Bennett's past willingness to sacrifice for the sake of avoiding further elections.
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