Eisenkot, Lieberman Clash Over Coalition; Deri Assures Netanyahu
Translated & summarized from Al-Shams by baba
Political tensions are high in Israel as Gadi Eisenkot faces potential coalition talks, clashing with Avigdor Lieberman over government composition and support. Aryeh Deri assured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he would not break up the right-wing bloc. Netanyahu called for a broad national unity government, warning against potential threats to Israel's existence and Jewish character.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Gadi Eisenkot and Avigdor Lieberman are in conflict over coalition building ahead of potential government formation talks.
- Lieberman accused Eisenkot of considering a government supported by Arab parties.
- Eisenkot's allies claim Lieberman's personal whims are obstructing a stable coalition.
- Eisenkot insists on a universal service law, a potential hurdle for Haredi party inclusion.
- Aryeh Deri assured Prime Minister Netanyahu he would not dismantle the right-wing bloc.
- Netanyahu urged a national unity government, warning of existential threats to Israel.
Tensions are rising within Israel's "change bloc" ahead of President Yitzhak Herzog's expected tasking of Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yamina Party, with forming a government. Channel 13 reported that Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, accused Eisenkot in closed talks of potentially forming a government reliant on Arab party support, which Lieberman deemed embarrassing. Allies of Eisenkot countered that Lieberman's "personal whims" were hindering a stable coalition, emphasizing Eisenkot's non-negotiable demand for a law mandating universal military service. This condition poses a potential obstacle to negotiations with Haredi parties, whose inclusion in the change bloc is being explored.
In parallel, sources close to Lieberman reportedly met with senior Haredi party officials in recent months to discuss potential political cooperation. The aim was to explore a scenario where Lieberman could become prime minister, securing a 61-seat Knesset majority for the change bloc. However, these contacts have not yet yielded concrete agreements, and the feasibility of this scenario remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, Channel 13 also reported that Aryeh Deri, head of the Shas Party, conveyed a message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, assuring him that he would not dismantle the right-wing bloc. Netanyahu, in a video statement on Saturday evening, called for a national unity government encompassing all "national camp" and Zionist parties. He warned that the next government could lead to the "erasure of the State of Israel," stressing the importance of preserving its Jewish character and permanently eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat.
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