i24NEWS ArabicPolitics12:25

Lieberman Softens Stance on Haredi Draft to Aid Coalition Talks

By i24NEWS

Translated & summarized from i24NEWS Arabic by baba

CenterNeutral tone

Arabic · 16 newsrooms covering

Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, has softened his stance on the military conscription of Haredi men, signaling a potential breakthrough in Israeli coalition talks. Lieberman is now open to compromise on the draft law, provided Benjamin Netanyahu is not part of the government and further elections are avoided. His flexibility could pave the way for a coalition including Haredi parties, though he remains firm against relying on abstentions from Arab parties. Lieberman called for difficult decisions and painful compromises for the national interest.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Avigdor Lieberman is willing to compromise on Haredi military conscription to help form a government without Netanyahu.
Lieberman's conditions for coalition talks include ending Netanyahu's leadership and avoiding new elections.
The recent Israeli election resulted in blocs of 53, 48, and 19 seats, with Arab parties holding key influence.
Lieberman's shift could facilitate cooperation with Haredi parties like Shas and United Torah Judaism.
He reiterated opposition to a government dependent on abstentions from the Joint List and United Arab List.

Lieberman Softens Stance on Haredi Draft to Aid Coalition Talks — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, announced Friday he is willing to compromise on the military conscription of Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men, a significant shift from his previous election platform, as coalition negotiations continue in Israel. Lieberman outlined three non-negotiable conditions for joining a government: ending Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership, avoiding further elections, and rejecting a coalition dependent on the abstention of the Joint List and the United Arab List. He stated all other issues, including the draft law, are open to negotiation and compromise.

This statement marks a departure from his pre-election insistence on mandatory military or civilian service for all Israelis as a non-negotiable condition for coalition participation. In October, he explicitly ruled out any compromise on this demand, but on Friday, he explained that "the national interest of the State of Israel and the people of Israel must come before all other considerations." His willingness to moderate his position could remove a major obstacle to cooperation with the Haredi parties.

The October 27 elections resulted in Netanyahu's bloc securing 53 seats, the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot gaining 48 seats, and two Arab parties obtaining 19 seats. Including the Shas and United Torah Judaism parties in the opposition bloc would create a narrow 61-seat majority.

Channel 12 reported Thursday that Lieberman had dropped his objection to partnering with the ultra-Orthodox parties and that his 2018 draft proposal could serve as a basis for negotiations. However, his party denied the report, stating to The Jerusalem Post that nothing had changed since Monday. The Friday statement explicitly supported flexibility on the draft law without announcing an agreement with either party.

Lieberman reiterated that Yisrael Beiteinu would vote against any government reliant on the abstention of the Joint List and the United Arab List, arguing a minority government would collapse quickly and potentially return Netanyahu to power with a larger mandate. He stressed that national responsibility requires "difficult decisions" and "painful compromises."

Lieberman called for a 61-seat coalition without Arab parties, anticipating that three or four Likud members might join after its formation. He also denied discussing a rotation agreement for the prime ministership, stating that whoever forms the government should have full authority for the entire term.