Bennett and Lieberman Consider Power-Sharing Deal to Sideline Gadi Eisenkot in Israeli Politics

With 75 days until Israel's elections, political turbulence is intensifying as new parties emerge and primaries heat up, but the most significant developments are unfolding behind closed doors. A scenario gaining traction involves former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman potentially orchestrating a political maneuver to sideline Gadi Eisenkot, former IDF Chief of Staff, from leading the opposition bloc.

Naftali Bennett has made it clear that his political comeback aims solely at the premiership, not lesser ministerial roles. He has previously altered political norms by securing the prime ministership with just six Knesset seats, setting a precedent that may influence current dynamics. In interviews, Bennett has consistently avoided directly naming a candidate for prime minister from the opposition camp, deflecting questions about whether he would support Eisenkot if Eisenkot secured more votes.

Similarly, Avigdor Lieberman has refrained from committing to not demanding the prime ministership despite his party's relatively small size. He openly asserts his experience and ambition to be prime minister and publicly questions Eisenkot's readiness for the role. Both Bennett and Lieberman appear to reject Eisenkot's leadership within the opposition bloc.

Though no formal agreement exists, insiders speculate that if the opposition bloc wins, Bennett and Lieberman could combine their mandates (14 and 10 seats respectively) to form a 24-seat coalition against Eisenkot's estimated 22-23 seats. They might announce a rotation agreement with Bennett serving as prime minister for two years, followed by Lieberman for two years, while appointing Eisenkot as defense minister. This would be framed as a pragmatic solution to lead Israel through a critical period.

While this scenario remains hypothetical and no signed deal has been disclosed, it reflects the fluid and unpredictable nature of Israeli politics, where unconventional alliances and surprising power shifts have repeatedly occurred. The political landscape remains highly uncertain as the election approaches.