Netanyahu Seeks to Sway Haredi Parties From Eisenkot Alliance

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is actively working to prevent ultra-Orthodox parties from joining a potential government led by Gadi Eisenkot. Netanyahu is engaging with rabbis, utilizing mediators, and seeking support from religious leaders, warning them of the potential pitfalls of such an alliance, according to Maariv. Sources involved in the negotiations indicate Netanyahu is personally contacting rabbis and sending representatives to Haredi leadership, aiming to broaden support among religious authorities outside the top echelon.

Netanyahu's primary argument is that Eisenkot and his allies might use Haredi support to form a government, only to sideline them after the state budget is approved. He suggests the coalition could then rely on Arab parties, leaving Haredi politicians with diminished influence. Netanyahu's circle believes the Haredim could be left vulnerable if new partners renege on agreements concerning conscription legislation and other religious and state matters after the government is formed. They warn that even if Eisenkot's bloc promises favorable legislation, "they will use you and throw you out," according to the prime minister's associates.

However, Haredi parties are hesitant to commit without a clear alternative from Netanyahu. They want to know if he can form a new coalition without necessitating new elections. Netanyahu reportedly feels that engaging only with Rabbi Dov Lando and the senior Ashkenazi Haredi leadership is insufficient. He is attempting to involve second-tier rabbis, some of whom are perceived as more right-leaning and wary of cooperating with liberal and left-wing parties.

Within the Haredi camp, there is no unified stance. Decisions for the United Torah Judaism party are influenced by various rabbis, politicians, and public figures. Moti Babchik, an influential figure in Agudat Yisrael and a follower of the Gur Hasidic leader, supports exploring cooperation with Eisenkot but demands guarantees for the Haredi community's interests. Others, like Knesset Member Meir Porush, insist on concrete actions, such as approving conscription legislation, before signing any coalition agreement.

United Torah Judaism also expresses concern about joining a government without the Shas party, which could leave them as the sole Haredi representative among secular and liberal partners, weakening their position on religious-state issues. They desire Shas's participation to strengthen their collective bargaining power. Eisenkot's side is considering an agreement with United Torah Judaism first, assuming the Ra'am party abstains from voting for government formation, with Shas joining later. Avigdor Lieberman, however, prefers Shas's involvement from the outset, while Shas leader Aryeh Deri has not yet finalized his position. United Torah Judaism seeks a definitive answer from Netanyahu on whether he can form a government and if Eisenkot or other "Change Bloc" parties would agree to a national unity government led by Netanyahu, a scenario for which there is currently no indication of support from Eisenkot.