Lieberman Lifts Ban on Ultra-Orthodox Parties, Opening Government Talks

Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has ended his long-standing political boycott of ultra-Orthodox parties, paving the way for coalition negotiations. According to a report by Channel 12 News, Lieberman has given his approval for coalition partners in the "change bloc" to engage in talks with United Torah Judaism and Shas. This shift comes after years of Lieberman's refusal to sit in a government with these parties, a pledge he reiterated before the recent elections.

Lieberman had previously set three red lines: not sitting with Binyamin Netanyahu, not sitting with the ultra-Orthodox, and not forming a government reliant on Arab parties. In light of the election results, his priority is now to replace Netanyahu, while still opposing a government dependent on Arab parties. The opposition bloc is exploring the possibility of forming a 61-member Knesset government, comprising 48 opposition members and 13 from United Torah Judaism and Shas.

A key issue in potential negotiations is the conscription law for ultra-Orthodox men. The talks are expected to center on a bill Lieberman promoted in 2018 as Defense Minister. While ultra-Orthodox parties opposed that proposal then, some now see it as preferable to stricter measures proposed since. The 2018 bill is considered more lenient than a later proposal by MK Boaz Bismuth, as it delays economic sanctions on yeshivas for three years and omits personal sanctions for draft dodgers.

The opposition bloc views United Torah Judaism's decision not to recommend Netanyahu to President Yitzhak Herzog as a positive sign for negotiations. However, Shas remains a significant obstacle, as the party has stated it will recommend Netanyahu. Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, who recently returned to lead the party, continues to advocate for a partnership with Likud. Senior Rabbi Moshe Maya also expressed opposition to joining a "left-wing" government and called for a unity government.

Meanwhile, the opposition bloc is also considering an alternative: forming a minority government led by Izankot as early as next week, with external support from Arab parties. Lieberman opposes this option, arguing that such a government would not be sustainable.