Lieberman in Talks With Haredi Parties for Coalition Support
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman is negotiating with Haredi parties for coalition support, offering concessions like halting draft dodger arrests and specific ministerial posts. Preliminary understandings have been reached, but internal opposition disagreements and Prime Minister Netanyahu's counter-efforts have caused a temporary halt. Lieberman also insists on prioritizing other legislative actions over canceling judicial reforms. Haredi parties, while open to talks, emphasize that any agreement must preserve the status quo on religion and state.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Avigdor Lieberman is negotiating with Haredi parties for coalition support, offering concessions on draft dodgers and ministerial posts.
- Preliminary understandings include halting arrests of draft dodgers and forming a committee to review national service.
- United Torah Judaism is expected to receive the Ministries of Housing and Interior in a potential deal.
- Internal opposition disagreements and Prime Minister Netanyahu's efforts have temporarily stalled the talks.
- Lieberman is reportedly demanding the opposition prioritize electing a Knesset speaker and limiting prime ministerial terms over judicial reform.
- Haredi parties will only agree to cooperation if the status quo on religion and state is maintained.
Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, is reportedly engaged in political negotiations with Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties, aiming to secure their support for his bid to lead the next government. These discussions, revealed by Channel 13's Yoeli Barim, have already yielded preliminary understandings. In exchange for joining Lieberman's "change bloc," the Haredi parties are expected to receive several concessions. Key among these is a commitment to advance legislation that would immediately halt the arrest of draft dodgers. Additionally, a committee is planned to re-examine the issue of national service, broadening the discussion to include the Arab population and other groups, ostensibly to deflect criticism from the Haredi community.
Government portfolio allocations have also been discussed. Preliminary agreements suggest United Torah Judaism would receive the Ministry of Construction and Housing, previously earmarked for MK Yaakov Asher, and the Ministry of Interior, which would go to a non-Knesset member from Degel HaTorah. Lieberman's close associate Avi Abuhatzira, businessman Jackie Ben Zaken, and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion are involved in the talks from Lieberman's side. David Shapira, a central figure in Degel HaTorah, and Moti Bapchik, representing Agudat Yisrael, are negotiating for the Haredi parties.
However, progress is reportedly stalled due to internal disagreements within the opposition bloc, which understands Lieberman's strategy to leverage Haredi support for his premiership. Contact between the parties was severed on Friday, but discussions are expected to resume soon. Some senior figures within the Lithuanian leadership are skeptical about the feasibility of the agreements, fearing legal challenges. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly attempting to undermine these talks by engaging directly with Haredi rabbis, though these efforts have thus far been unsuccessful.
Further complicating matters, political correspondent Michael Shemesh reported that Lieberman has set a condition regarding the judicial reform. He has informed his political partners that he will not support the cancellation of reform laws at this stage. Instead, Lieberman is pushing the opposition bloc to prioritize other legislative actions, including electing a Knesset speaker, enacting a law to limit prime ministerial terms, and selecting a state comptroller. This indicates Lieberman's dual strategy of engaging Haredi parties while also attempting to reshape the opposition's legislative agenda.
MK Yaakov Asher of United Torah Judaism expressed optimism about the flexibility shown by political actors on the conscription law, lamenting past divisions. He emphasized that any political proposal would first be presented for spiritual approval by senior rabbinical authorities. A senior figure in United Torah Judaism described the upcoming week as critical for potential agreements on regulating yeshiva students' status and cooperating with the change bloc, stressing that any partnership must uphold the status quo on religion and state matters.
Mentioned
