Lieberman Tells Eisenkot He Won't Seek PM Role, Urges Coalition Compromises
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
Avigdor Lieberman met with Gadi Eisenkot, who is tasked with forming Israel's next government, and stated he does not want to be prime minister but urged compromises for coalition talks. Lieberman and Eisenkot agreed to prioritize negotiations with Haredi parties before considering other options, including a minority government. Separately, Naftali Bennett gave Eisenkot the authority to choose the Knesset speaker, though Haredi parties are hesitant to replace the speaker before government formation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued to call for a unity government.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Avigdor Lieberman told Gadi Eisenkot he doesn't want to be prime minister but urged coalition compromises.
- Lieberman and Eisenkot agreed to prioritize talks with Haredi parties for government formation.
- Naftali Bennett delegated the choice of Knesset speaker to Gadi Eisenkot.
- Haredi parties refused to replace the Knesset speaker before government formation.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a unity government including Zionist and Haredi parties.
Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, met with Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the National Unity Party, who has been tasked by President Yitzhak Herzog with forming a government. During the meeting, Lieberman clarified that he does not seek the role of prime minister himself but urged Eisenkot to prepare his party and the "change bloc" for necessary compromises in coalition negotiations. "You will be prime minister. I am not asking for this role for myself. I ask that you give me time to work. There are no shortcuts. I am committed to replacing Netanyahu. You need to prepare your party and the bloc for the compromises that will be," Lieberman reportedly told Eisenkot.
Eisenkot requested Lieberman's assistance in engaging with the Haredi parties to secure their inclusion in the coalition. Both leaders agreed to exhaust discussions with the Haredi parties first before exploring other government formation options. This suggests that the possibility of a minority government supported by Arab parties will be postponed until negotiations with the Haredi factions are concluded. Reports indicate that coalition talks between Eisenkot and United Torah Judaism have already commenced.
In parallel, Naftali Bennett, chairman of the Together party, informed Eisenkot that Eisenkot would select the permanent Knesset speaker. However, United Torah Judaism announced they would not cooperate with replacing the Knesset speaker at the opening session of the 26th Knesset, scheduled for swearing-in the following afternoon. The party explained that the speaker change should coincide with government formation, not just the Knesset's establishment, to prevent a situation where the speaker might oppose the incoming government. Shas also expressed no willingness to join the move at this stage, with a senior official stating they had not received instructions to cooperate.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video appealing for a unity government that includes all Zionist and Haredi parties, without mentioning a rotation in the prime minister's role. These developments occur as the 26th Knesset prepares for its swearing-in, with Eisenkot continuing coalition talks focused on negotiations with Haredi parties and agreements among the change bloc leaders.
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