Moshe Kahlon Predicts Naftali Bennett or Avigdor Lieberman as Next Israeli Prime Minister

Strategic advisor Moshe Kahlon outlined a post-election scenario in Israel where the Zionist change bloc secures 61 Knesset seats, focusing on who will lead the next government rather than if it will be formed. Kahlon predicts that Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman will announce a technical merger to form a faction exceeding 20 mandates, comparable in size to Gadi Eizenkot's party. They will jointly present a candidate to the president, with only one formally receiving the mandate, aiming for a rotation government similar to the Bennett-Lapid model.

Kahlon explains this move is based on three principles: governance (removing Netanyahu), right-wing ideology (two leaders with right-wing views), and extensive managerial experience. The coalition would showcase leadership experience including two former prime ministers (Bennett and Lapid), two former defense ministers (Lieberman and Bennett), and former foreign and finance ministers.

The next step involves pressuring Gadi Eizenkot to join as a senior partner to help replace Netanyahu, appealing to his past military leadership ambitions. After forming a coalition skeleton of over 50 seats, they plan to approach the "third bloc" parties, including figures like Hili Tropper, Gilad Erdan, Ofer Winter, and Benny Gantz. The majority needed could be completed with the Democrats faction, parties from Netanyahu's bloc, or a combination.

Kahlon concludes that Bennett and Lieberman's refusal to concede the prime ministership to Eizenkot is deliberate, stating, "Anyone who thinks Bennett and Lieberman’s unwillingness to yield the mandate to Eizenkot is accidental is living in a fantasy."