Ultra-Orthodox Parties Demand Legal Guarantees for Government Support
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Ultra-Orthodox parties are demanding a one-year freeze on conscription and legal guarantees from the Attorney General to support a new government. They seek a "pre-ruling" to defend their proposed arrangement in the High Court. Meanwhile, Gadi Eisenkot and Avigdor Lieberman have agreed to prioritize negotiations with these parties, temporarily pausing consideration of a minority government. MK Yaakov Asher was proposed as interim Knesset Speaker to ensure swift votes on conscription legislation.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Ultra-Orthodox parties demand a one-year conscription freeze and legal backing for their plan.
- They seek a "pre-ruling" from the Attorney General to defend the arrangement in the High Court.
- Gadi Eisenkot and Avigdor Lieberman agreed to prioritize talks with ultra-Orthodox factions.
- A minority government option is paused pending the outcome of ultra-Orthodox negotiations.
- MK Yaakov Asher was proposed as interim Knesset Speaker for legislative control.
Ultra-Orthodox parties are demanding significant legal and political concessions in exchange for their support in forming a new government. Commentator Amit Segal revealed that the parties are not seeking immediate full conscription but rather a one-year to 18-month interim order. This proposed transition period would freeze the general conscription obligation, cancel arrests of draft dodgers, and prevent economic sanctions.
A key demand from the ultra-Orthodox factions is a "pre-ruling" from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and the legal advisor to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Miri Frankel-Shoor. They want explicit commitments that these legal officials will defend the proposed conscription arrangement in the High Court of Justice (Bagatz).
Ultra-Orthodox sources have dismissed rumors of passive abstention to enable a minority government, stating, "If they want our votes, they should come for direct negotiations." Meanwhile, Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of "Yashar!", and Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of "Yisrael Beiteinu", have agreed to prioritize dialogue with the ultra-Orthodox parties. Eisenkot has reportedly asked Lieberman to personally assist in these talks.
This agreement between Eisenkot and Lieberman means that alternative options, such as forming a minority government relying on Arab parties, are temporarily shelved and will only be considered if negotiations with the ultra-Orthodox reach an impasse. In separate discussions between the United Torah Judaism party and elements of the "Change Bloc," the possibility of appointing MK Yaakov Asher as interim Knesset Speaker was raised. This proposal, predating the Eisenkot-Lieberman agreement, was intended as a political "insurance policy" for the ultra-Orthodox, ensuring immediate parliamentary votes on conscription legislation by controlling the agenda.
Eisenkot received the mandate to form a government from President Yitzhak Herzog after securing the recommendations of 67 Knesset members. He has 28 days to present a government, with the deadline set for December 6, 2026.
Mentioned
