Bennett and Lieberman Plan Post-Election Alliance to Challenge Gadi Eisenkot for Prime Minister

Ahead of the upcoming elections, Naftali Bennett, chairman of the Yachdav party, and Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, are strategizing to prevent Gadi Eisenkot from easily securing the prime ministership. Despite Eisenkot leading the largest party in the opposition bloc according to polls, Bennett and Lieberman are considering a post-election merger to form a bloc with more seats than Eisenkot’s party, potentially enabling them to enforce a rotation agreement for the prime minister role.

Initially, Eisenkot and Bennett agreed that the prime minister would come from the largest party. However, Bennett now argues that the prime minister should be the "most right-wing" member of the bloc. After uniting with Yair Lapid, Bennett stated that the most experienced candidate should lead. Lieberman sees himself as the most experienced and senior candidate, positioning himself as the next right-wing leader and the most suitable prime minister.

Meanwhile, in the smaller parties, a leadership battle is underway. Ayelet Shaked is attempting to unify the fragmented "third bloc," but the question of who will lead remains unresolved. Benny Gantz, head of Blue and White, refuses to concede leadership, especially to Gilad Erdan, who recently announced a new party and aims to lead the right-wing camp and become prime minister. Erdan also refuses association with anyone who participated in the current change government, making Gantz’s leadership of such a union unlikely.

Recent reports indicate that Gantz and Shaked have been negotiating a political merger to run jointly in the elections. The proposed arrangement would place Gantz first on the list or joint body, while Shaked would have the first choice of government roles post-election. The final division of roles remains a key unresolved issue.

This evolving political landscape highlights the complex jockeying for leadership within the opposition and right-wing blocs as parties prepare for the elections and the possibility of coalition formations afterward.