Lieberman Signals Flexibility on Haredi Draft Law to Form Government

By אור גואטה

Translated & summarized from Davar by baba

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Hebrew · 17 newsrooms covering

Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman announced Friday he is willing to compromise on the Haredi draft law to help form a new government, a significant shift in his position. He reiterated his opposition to a government reliant on Arab parties and his desire to end Benjamin Netanyahu's rule. Lieberman's flexibility may enable negotiations with Haredi parties, who hold 13 seats. The mandate to form a government is expected to be assigned by President Yitzhak Herzog on Sunday.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Avigdor Lieberman is willing to compromise on the Haredi draft law to form a new government.
Lieberman insists on ending Benjamin Netanyahu's rule and avoiding reliance on Arab parties.
His flexibility could open negotiations with Haredi parties holding 13 Knesset seats.
President Herzog will assign the government formation mandate on Sunday.
Gadi Eisenkot received more recommendations but faces coalition-building challenges.

Lieberman Signals Flexibility on Haredi Draft Law to Form Government — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, announced Friday his willingness to compromise on the contentious Haredi conscription law as part of efforts to form a new government. In a Facebook post, Lieberman stated that the election results necessitate a "reassessment" and emphasized the need to establish a government without Benjamin Netanyahu, but also without relying on Arab parties.

"National responsibility requires us to make difficult decisions and be prepared for painful compromises," Lieberman wrote. "On all other issues, it is permissible and desirable to be flexible and compromise, understanding that trying to grasp too much means you grasp nothing. This includes the issue of the conscription law."

This statement marks a shift in Lieberman's stance, as he had previously made the conscription of Haredim a central condition for joining a government. While he did not explicitly state he would sit with Haredi parties, his flexibility on the draft law could open the door for negotiations with them.

Lieberman reiterated his commitment to three core principles: ending Netanyahu's tenure, preventing further elections, and opposing a minority government dependent on the abstention of the Ra'am and Joint List parties. He warned that such a minority government would be short-lived and could lead to Netanyahu's return with an even larger majority.

Lieberman called for a coalition of 61 Knesset members excluding Ra'am and the Joint List, suggesting that three to four Likud members could later join. He also dismissed reports of him discussing a rotation agreement for the premiership, calling such mechanisms detrimental to governing.

Lieberman's declaration follows the conclusion of presidential consultations, where Gadi Eisenkot received 67 recommendations for prime minister, compared to 46 for Netanyahu. President Yitzhak Herzog is expected to assign the mandate on Sunday. Despite Eisenkot's advantage in recommendations, he faces challenges in forming a 61-seat coalition without Arab party support. The anti-Netanyahu bloc holds 48 seats, Netanyahu's bloc has 53, and Ra'am and the Joint List hold 19. Lieberman's shift could facilitate dialogue with the Haredi parties, who together hold 13 seats.