Avigdor Lieberman Softens Draft Demands to Oust Benjamin Netanyahu
Avigdor Lieberman signaled willingness to compromise on ultra-Orthodox military conscription to help Gadi Eisenkot form a coalition government and remove Benjamin Netanyahu from power.
Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot is moving closer to forming a coalition government to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the October 27 election. Eisenkot holds a commanding lead in parliamentary recommendations, with 67 members backing him compared to 46 for Netanyahu. However, because neither candidate secured an outright majority in the 120-member Knesset, the final government composition depends on shifting alliances.
To secure a majority, Eisenkot is pursuing an alliance with ultra-Orthodox parties. This path became more viable on November 6 when Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, announced he would moderate his long-standing demands for mandatory military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews. Lieberman stated that national interests require "difficult decisions" and "painful compromises" to break the political deadlock and avoid new elections. While Lieberman remains firm in his refusal to serve in a government relying on Arab support, his flexibility on conscription allows ultra-Orthodox parties to potentially join an anti-Netanyahu bloc.
Eisenkot reported "significant progress" in these talks, a sentiment echoed by left-wing leader Yair Golan. Ultra-Orthodox lawmaker Yaakov Asher also welcomed the flexibility regarding the draft. President Isaac Herzog is expected to announce on Sunday who will be tasked with forming the government, noting that he must determine who has the actual ability to form a stable government given the mutual vetoes between political blocs.
