Liberman backs Eisenkot for PM role as haredi parties stall
Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman will recommend Gadi Eisenkot to President Isaac Herzog, but key religious parties are delaying their decision to force better terms.
By Ryan Davidson ·
Avigdor Liberman announced on Monday that he will recommend Gadi Eisenkot as the next prime minister of Israel. The decision comes ahead of coalition consultations scheduled to begin Wednesday at the President's Residence. Liberman stated he would not serve in a government with Benjamin Netanyahu, a move that narrows the available options for forming a new cabinet.
The central obstacle remains the haredi parties Shas and United Torah Judaism. Political sources indicate that Eisenkot will likely receive the initial mandate to form a government regardless of whether these parties formally recommend him. However, his ability to secure a majority depends on their support. To win them over, Eisenkot may offer generous terms regarding the military enlistment of yeshiva students, along with specific budget allocations.
The haredi leadership is currently maintaining a position of ambiguity. Representatives have emphasized in public statements that no final decision has been made and that rabbinical leaders will determine the path forward. Rabbis Dov Landau and Moshe Hillel Hirsch are expected to return from abroad around the time consultations begin. United Torah Judaism may choose not to recommend either Netanyahu or Eisenkot, preserving flexibility for future negotiations.
A potential complication involves a rotation agreement for the premiership. Liberman has already served as defense minister, finance minister, and foreign minister. Observers believe he may demand a share of the prime ministerial role rather than just a senior ministry. This could spark a dispute with Naftali Bennett, whose party won 12 Knesset seats compared to Liberman's seven. Bennett may oppose serving as a minister while Liberman rotates into the top job.
Haredi sources describe the current situation as an exceptional opportunity for their parties. One source noted that it is better for everyone to remain in suspense and uncertainty. However, a sober assessment among haredi political figures suggests the chances of joining a government led by Eisenkot are low. Arye Deri, chairman of Shas, has previously expressed a preference to avoid repeating the scenario of haredi participation in Yitzhak Rabin's government during the Oslo Accords period.
If the haredi parties reject an Eisenkot-led coalition, the option of a minority government supported by Arab parties returns to the debate. Liberman has ruled out this structure, stating he would not support a temporary administration. Without Yisrael Beytenu or the haredi blocs, Eisenkot would struggle to assemble a stable majority. If he fails to form a government, the mandate could pass to Netanyahu, who some believe might prefer another election over a complex unity deal.
