Lieberman's Concession to Haredim is a Strategic Move to Oust Netanyahu
Translated & summarized from Makor Rishon by baba
Israeli politician Avigdor Lieberman is reportedly willing to compromise on key election promises, including the Haredi conscription law, to form a government without Benjamin Netanyahu. This strategic move aims to prove that Israel can be governed effectively without the Likud party. Lieberman believes this will create internal pressure within the Likud, ultimately leading to Netanyahu's ouster and his own return to a position of power.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Avigdor Lieberman is reportedly willing to compromise on the Haredi conscription law to form a government without Netanyahu.
- This move is seen as a strategic effort to prove that Israel can be governed without the Likud party.
- Lieberman aims to create internal pressure within the Likud by demonstrating their inability to govern from opposition.
- The strategy involves 'swallowing a large frog' to gain a stronger position for future political battles.
- He believes this will eventually lead Likud members to question Netanyahu's leadership.
Avigdor Lieberman, who built a political career on advocating for a secular government without Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties, is now reportedly willing to join a coalition that includes United Torah Judaism, even if it means a softened conscription law. This apparent shift is framed not as hypocrisy, but as a calculated strategic maneuver. Lieberman understands that to achieve his goal of political change and break the current stalemate, he must sometimes make significant concessions, metaphorically 'swallowing a large frog.' His strategy prioritizes engaging in political battles from within the coalition rather than from the opposition benches. This approach aims to position him as a senior minister or dominant figure in a transitional government, a far stronger position than being in opposition should new elections arise.
Lieberman's immediate objective is psychological: to shatter the myth that a government without the Likud party, and specifically without Benjamin Netanyahu, cannot function. By forming such a government, even with concessions, he aims to demonstrate that Israel can be governed effectively even with the Likud in opposition. He believes that once a "change" government is established and operating, the political magic of "only Bibi" will fade, proving that the country will not collapse and that governance is possible without him. This, he calculates, will create internal pressure within the Likud party.
Lieberman is banking on the Likud's history as a ruling party, accustomed to the perks of ministerial positions, budgets, and influence. He anticipates that prolonged time in opposition will lead to internal dissent, as members who are used to power will become restless. The hunger for influence, he believes, will eventually outweigh party loyalty, leading Likud members to question Netanyahu's leadership. Lieberman is willing to pay an ideological price now, by compromising on the conscription issue, to gain a position of power that will serve him later. This tactic is described as a war of attrition, designed to make Likud members realize that Netanyahu has become an obstacle to their return to power.
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