Lieberman Positioned to Broker Ultra-Orthodox Draft Law Deal for Eisenkot Government
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
Avigdor Lieberman's appointment as head of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee positions him to be a key player in negotiations over the ultra-Orthodox draft law, potentially enabling Gadi Eisenkot to form a government. Prime Minister Netanyahu's Likud party is attempting to prevent the ultra-Orthodox party United Torah Judaism from joining the opposition, but faces limitations. There is internal doubt within Likud about Netanyahu's ability to secure the ultra-Orthodox parties' support. The ultra-Orthodox community reportedly views an agreement with Eisenkot as more legally stable. United Torah Judaism has not yet committed to joining an Eisenkot government, citing the need to address broader religious issues.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Avigdor Lieberman's committee role places him at the center of ultra-Orthodox draft law negotiations for a potential Eisenkot government.
- Likud, led by Netanyahu, is trying to prevent the ultra-Orthodox UTJ party from joining the opposition but faces limited options.
- There is internal doubt within Likud regarding Netanyahu's ability to keep ultra-Orthodox parties aligned with the right-wing bloc.
- Ultra-Orthodox factions reportedly believe an agreement with Eisenkot on the draft law would be more legally durable than with Netanyahu.
- UTJ has not yet decided to join an Eisenkot government, demanding resolution on broader religious issues beyond the draft law.
Avigdor Lieberman, a staunch opponent of ultra-Orthodox demands regarding military conscription, is poised to play a pivotal role in coalition negotiations for a potential government led by Gadi Eisenkot. His appointment as head of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee places him at the center of the contentious issue of the draft law, which could determine the success of coalition talks. Lieberman previously proposed a 2018 draft law as a basis for negotiations, and now, leading the committee, he can significantly influence its final form, granting him substantial leverage.
The Likud party, led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, is attempting to prevent the ultra-Orthodox party United Torah Judaism (UTJ) from joining the opposition, but its options are limited. Likud is trying to persuade some UTJ members, particularly from the Agudat Yisrael faction, to oppose opposition initiatives, including votes on the next Knesset speaker and confidence in an Eisenkot government. The goal is to exploit internal divisions within UTJ and prevent Eisenkot from securing a majority.
However, even within Likud, there is doubt about Netanyahu's ability to keep the ultra-Orthodox parties aligned with the right-wing bloc, especially if Eisenkot offers terms that meet their demands. A major concern for Likud is the possibility that UTJ might agree to a coalition commitment to resolve the draft law issue after the government is formed, which could remove a key obstacle to negotiations.
Some in the ultra-Orthodox community believe an agreement with Eisenkot would be more legally durable than one with Netanyahu. In private discussions, Likud acknowledges that Netanyahu lacks effective political tools to guarantee the ultra-Orthodox parties' loyalty to the right. The spiritual leader of Degel HaTorah, Rabbi Dov Lando, is seen as a key figure whose decision could influence both UTJ and the Shas party. Likud believes Lando is not inherently bound to the right-wing camp and that an agreement with Eisenkot on the draft law could shift the positions of other ultra-Orthodox parties.
Despite ongoing talks, UTJ has not yet decided whether to join an Eisenkot government, emphasizing that any coalition agreement must address not only the draft law but also other religious issues like Shabbat observance, kashrut, conversion, and the status quo. Some Agudat Yisrael members also oppose joining a government with opposition parties, which Likud hopes to leverage.
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