Yahadut HaTorah Denies Breakthrough in Coalition Talks with "Change Bloc"

Yaakov Asher, chairman of the Yahadut HaTorah party, on Sunday, November 15, refuted reports of a breakthrough in negotiations with the "Change Bloc." He stated that claims of "dramatic" progress and an exchange of draft agreements were unfounded, adding that other parties were also referencing these reports to offer advice on the negotiations.

Last week, Gadi Eisenkot, head of the "Change Bloc," secretly met with Asher. Asher also met with Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, humorously attributing their meeting to borrowing coffee. Asher described these interactions with other politicians as natural during government formation and indicated that Yahadut HaTorah would not comment daily on meeting reports. The party has established a negotiation team representing all its factions to engage with various blocs and parties. A source within Yahadut HaTorah described prior discussions as preliminary and focused on general positions.

Earlier, a senior "Change Bloc" representative had reported "positive progress" in Eisenkot's initial contacts with ultra-Orthodox parties, noting discussions via a closed channel about forming a government. Lieberman was reportedly not involved in these specific talks, despite his meeting with Asher.

The "Change Bloc" is preparing a proposal to encourage Yahadut HaTorah to vote in favor of forming a government or abstain. Since a conscription law acceptable to the ultra-Orthodox party cannot be passed before the cabinet is sworn in, the bloc is considering guarantees. One option is to suspend the compulsory conscription of ultra-Orthodox men and detentions for draft evasion for up to a year after government formation, allowing time to agree on a conscription law based on Lieberman's 2018 proposal. Both sides cite the outgoing government's decision in late June 2023 to suspend ultra-Orthodox conscription and enforcement measures until March 2024 to prepare a new law as a precedent.

Lieberman has told his bloc partners that if Eisenkot can bring Yahadut HaTorah into the government, Shas might follow. The bloc hopes Shas would join a stable coalition if Netanyahu is not prime minister. If Shas refuses, forming a government with Yahadut HaTorah's support would require Ra'am to abstain during the vote. Lieberman has softened his stance on conscription but still opposes governments reliant on Ra'am, aiming primarily to end Netanyahu's tenure. Eisenkot's mandate to form a government expires on December 6, potentially forcing Lieberman to decide his voting stance.