Lieberman's Decade-Old Draft Law Could Enable Haredi Coalition for Eisenkot
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Gadi Eisenkot may form a government with Haredi parties by reviving a 2018 conscription law proposed by Avigdor Lieberman. The Haredi parties demand a law without sanctions, similar to Lieberman's past offer, which they previously refused. Challenges include contradictions with coalition partners' promises, legal hurdles for passing the law before government formation, and potential High Court challenges. Eisenkot is reportedly using mediators to navigate these complex negotiations.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Gadi Eisenkot might form a government with Haredi parties using a decade-old conscription law proposal.
- The proposed law, from Avigdor Lieberman in 2018, offers concessions to Haredi parties on military conscription.
- Haredi parties seek a conscription law without sanctions or targets, aligning with Lieberman's past offer.
- Forming the government faces challenges including coalition partner support and legal opinions on timing.
- The proposed conscription law may face scrutiny and potential rejection from the High Court of Justice.
A draft law proposed by Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman in 2018, which offered significant concessions to Haredi parties on conscription, may pave the way for National Unity chairman Gadi Eisenkot to form a government with them. Eisenkot, who is expected to be tasked with forming the next government, faces a choice between forming a unity government with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu or a coalition with the Haredi parties.
The Haredi parties are demanding a conscription law more favorable than the "Bismuth Law" proposed in the previous Knesset, which they dubbed the "Draft Evasion Law." They seek a law without sanctions or specific conscription targets. Lieberman's 2018 proposal, made when he was Defense Minister, aligns closely with these demands, potentially creating common ground for a coalition that includes Yisrael Beiteinu and the Haredi parties, despite their previous rejection of his offer.
However, forming such a government presents challenges. The proposed law contradicts the election promises of the "Change Bloc" parties, requiring assurances from Lieberman and Naftali Bennett that they will support Eisenkot throughout the process. Mediators are reportedly involved in these sensitive discussions. Additionally, the Haredi parties face a dilemma: they would need to vote for Eisenkot's government before the law is passed, with the benefits only realized later, as a legal opinion suggests the law cannot be enacted before the government is sworn in.
Further complicating matters, the legality of the proposed conscription law is uncertain, with potential challenges expected from the High Court of Justice (Bagatz). There is also speculation that Eisenkot might be using the possibility of a Haredi coalition to pressure Netanyahu, rather than genuinely intending to form one. The path to a resolution remains unclear and is far from guaranteed.
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