Lieberman Drops Veto on Haredi Parties, Eyes Rotation Government with Eisenkot

Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, has lifted his long-standing political veto on cooperating with Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties, signaling a significant shift in coalition-building efforts. This move allows his "Change Bloc" partners to initiate negotiations with the Haredi factions, potentially paving the way for a 61-member Knesset government comprising the Change Bloc and the Haredi parties, United Torah Judaism and Shas.

Lieberman had previously pledged not to sit in a government with Haredi parties, but the current political deadlock has led him to prioritize the goal of replacing Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister. He remains opposed to a government reliant on Arab parties, citing concerns about public sentiment and long-term stability. The proposed coalition would consist of 48 Change Bloc MKs and 13 Haredi MKs.

Negotiations are expected to be based on a conscription law proposed by Lieberman himself in 2018 when he served as Defense Minister. This 2018 proposal, which was rejected by Haredi parties at the time, is considered more lenient than subsequent proposals, offering a potential compromise on the contentious issue of Haredi enlistment. Under the 2018 plan, financial sanctions on yeshivas would be imposed only after three years, and no personal sanctions would apply to yeshiva students who do not enlist.

The Change Bloc views United Torah Judaism's decision not to recommend Benjamin Netanyahu to President Isaac Herzog as a sign of seriousness in potential talks. However, securing a majority requires the support of Shas, which has so far continued to coordinate with Likud and intends to recommend Netanyahu. Despite opposition from some Shas spiritual leaders, the Change Bloc hopes that a positive decision from Rabbi Dov Lando, spiritual leader of Degel HaTorah, could influence Shas's stance.

Amid these developments, the possibility of a rotation agreement for the prime minister's office between Gadi Eisenkot and Avigdor Lieberman is being discussed, though this is purely speculative at this stage. The Change Bloc is also exploring an alternative path: a minority government led by Eisenkot, potentially with external support from Arab parties. Lieberman has expressed reservations about this option, believing such a government would lack long-term viability.