Netanyahu's Strategy: Let Rivals Navigate Political Minefield
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party is advising him to stay passive while rival Gadi Eisenkot attempts to form a government, believing this strategy benefits Netanyahu. Sources suggest Netanyahu appears confused but is in a stronger position, letting Eisenkot navigate difficult negotiations. President Yitzhak Herzog will begin coalition consultations on Wednesday. Likud predicts any government Eisenkot might form would be unstable and short-lived.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Likud advises PM Netanyahu to remain passive as rival Gadi Eisenkot attempts to form a government.
- Sources believe Netanyahu is in a stronger position, letting Eisenkot navigate difficult coalition negotiations.
- Any Netanyahu involvement could embolden ultra-Orthodox parties, aiding Eisenkot's task, according to Likud.
- President Yitzhak Herzog begins coalition consultations with parliamentary factions on Wednesday.
- Likud predicts a minority government formed by Eisenkot would be unstable and collapse quickly.
- Avigdor Lieberman supports Eisenkot but opposes a minority government; Naftali Bennett is non-committal.
Sources within the Likud party believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's current strategy is to remain passive and allow Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar Party, to attempt forming a government. This approach, according to Likud insiders who have spoken with Netanyahu, is seen as advantageous despite the Prime Minister appearing "quite confused." They argue Netanyahu is in a stronger starting position than Eisenkot ahead of President Yitzhak Herzog's decision on who to task with coalition building.
The Likud's reasoning is that any direct involvement by Netanyahu in negotiations, particularly with ultra-Orthodox parties, could embolden their demands, thereby making Eisenkot's task easier. "The correct strategy for him now, and he understands this, is to remain passive. Any intervention from him will only spoil everything," stated a Likud representative. The party believes shifting the burden of coalition formation to Netanyahu's political rival creates a distinct advantage for him.
"Eisenkot is now walking through a minefield," Likud sources commented. "Why should we ease his path through this minefield? Let him go." They suggest that any discussions Netanyahu might have with ultra-Orthodox parties or figures close to Mansour Abbas could be leveraged by those parties to increase their demands on Eisenkot.
Even if Netanyahu were initially tasked by the President, Likud strategists believe it could backfire, forcing him into immediate, difficult negotiations without a clear path to a coalition. Eisenkot faces challenges beyond negotiations with Arab parties. While Avigdor Lieberman has pledged support for Eisenkot's candidacy, he maintains his opposition to a minority government. Naftali Bennett has also expressed support but has not committed to a specific coalition model.
Likud estimates that even a minority government formed by Eisenkot with Arab party support would be unstable and short-lived, unable to pass budgets or laws. Such a government's collapse, they predict, could cause "irreparable electoral damage" to Eisenkot, with a national unity government eventually being the most viable solution to the political deadlock. President Herzog is scheduled to begin consultations with parliamentary factions on Wednesday, starting with smaller parties.
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