Eisenkot and Lieberman Meet Amid Coalition Talks, Express Confidence

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yamina party, and Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, held a "substantive and good" meeting on Monday, according to a statement from Yamina. Both leaders "expressed their full confidence in the ability to establish a stable government for four years."

The meeting occurs as "Change Bloc" parties engage in ongoing negotiations with Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties, primarily concerning the status of yeshiva students. Eisenkot received the mandate to form a government from President Yitzhak Herzog on Sunday, having secured the recommendation of 67 Knesset members, including Arab parties. He has 28 days to form a government, with a deadline of December 6, 2026, and a potential 14-day extension from the president.

Negotiations with Haredi parties are focused on the draft law and the status of yeshiva students. A senior official from United Torah Judaism stated that the coming days will clarify the political system's willingness to reach a settlement, calling it a "significant week" for cooperation with the Change Bloc. However, United Torah Judaism insists that any political cooperation is conditional on maintaining the status quo on all religion and state issues. Lieberman, meanwhile, stated that any draft law must pass Supreme Court (Bagatz) scrutiny, otherwise, it is pointless to discuss. He also refuted reports of concessions on the draft law.

A piece in the Gur Hasidic publication 'HaModia' signaled public readiness for United Torah Judaism to join the Change Bloc, emphasizing the need for "appropriate guarantees" beyond written commitments. A source in the Change Bloc described the situation as a "complex maze," doubting that agreements would be reached during Eisenkot's mandate. Nevertheless, the meeting between Eisenkot and Lieberman indicates continued efforts to form a government.

U.S. President Donald Trump commented on Herzog's decision, assessing that the policy and strategic differences between Eisenkot and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu are smaller than commonly believed, stating they are "very similar in their policies and worldview."