Lapid: New Israeli Government Possible With Painful Compromises

Yair Lapid, head of the Yesh Atid party, stated on Thursday, November 12, that a new government will be formed, though it may take time and require "painful compromises." He drew a lesson from Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasizing the need to establish a government first and then improve and expand it. Lapid also asserted that relations within the "change bloc" are better than commonly perceived.

"It might take time, but a good government, worthy of the people of Israel and true to its principles, will be established. It would be madness if it didn't come into being," Lapid said. He acknowledged that ideal governments and coalition agreements do not exist. "It is impossible to form a government without painful compromises. We likely won't be able to achieve all our goals and fulfill all our promises in the next six months. But the government will be formed," he added.

Meanwhile, the change bloc, led by Gadi Eisenkot, is discussing proposals for the ultra-Orthodox faction United Torah Judaism to support the government's formation or abstain from voting. Following Avigdor Lieberman, head of Yisrael Beiteinu, lifting his veto on the inclusion of Orthodox parties, the bloc's efforts have focused on providing concrete guarantees to the faction. Advancing a significant conscription law before the government's swearing-in is currently not feasible. One discussed option involves suspending conscription measures and arrests of draft dodgers for up to a year after the government is formed. During this period, parties aim to agree on a conscription law based on a revised plan proposed by Lieberman in 2018.

Concurrently, according to Ynet, the change bloc continues to consider Ra'am as a potential coalition partner. In recent days, bloc representatives have actively discussed with Ra'am's leadership and chairman Mansour Abbas the designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization, which is the fourth condition set by Eisenkot. The change bloc's proposal to the ultra-Orthodox is to freeze conscription and arrests of draft dodgers for a year. Abbas, according to Ynet sources, has in principle agreed to this condition but wants assurance of the bloc's serious commitment to partnership with Ra'am. Representatives from the Democratic Party and Eisenkot's The Israelis party are mediating the negotiations. Abbas did not deny the publication during a Ra'am faction meeting and expressed a desire to join the next government, stating the party will respond during coalition talks. Some members of the change bloc also favor cooperation with the Joint List, likely without their participation in the government.