Full coverage· Politics· Updated
Netanyahu Warns Haredi Parties of Betrayal by 'Change Bloc'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is actively lobbying Haredi parties to reject a potential government led by Gadi Eisenkot, warning them they will be used and discarded once the state budget is approved. Netanyahu is personally contacting rabbis, using mediators, and reaching out to second-tier religious figures to build opposition to the proposed coalition. He warns that an Eisenkot-led government would eventually sideline Haredi interests, particularly on the draft law and other religious matters, by relying on Arab parties like Ra'am and the Joint List.
3 newsrooms · 3 languages · since
What happened
- 01Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is urging Haredi parties not to join a potential government led by Gadi Eisenkot.
- 02Netanyahu warns that Eisenkot's coalition will discard Haredi partners once the state budget is approved.
- 03Haredi leaders are taking the warnings seriously but demand a concrete alternative from Netanyahu that avoids new elections.
- 04Netanyahu is reaching out to second-tier rabbis, believing they are more aligned with the right-wing bloc.
- 05United Torah Judaism fears being the only Haredi faction in the coalition if Shas decides not to join.
- 06Haredi factions are divided, with some demanding immediate legislative guarantees on the draft law.
- 07There is no indication that Gadi Eisenkot would agree to join a national unity government led by Netanyahu.
While Haredi leaders are taking Netanyahu's warnings seriously, they are demanding a viable alternative from him that would avoid triggering new elections. The Haredi factions remain divided on their coalition strategies, with some demanding concrete legislative guarantees before committing to any bloc. Rabbi Dov Lando, a key religious authority, is reportedly evaluating options based on the community's immediate needs rather than automatically committing to the right-wing bloc.
Internal deliberations are particularly tense within United Torah Judaism, where there is significant apprehension about joining a coalition without the Shas party. Leaders fear that being the sole Haredi faction alongside secular and liberal parties would severely limit their political influence. Meanwhile, there is no indication that Eisenkot is willing to support a national unity government led by Netanyahu.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: Maariv. Read Maariv’s originalThe coverage
3 newsrooms on this story
Who covered it
- LeftNone
- Centre2
- RightNone
- HarediNone
- ArabNone
- Other1
