Liberman Accuses Eisenkot Of Planning Coalition With Netanyahu
Avigdor Liberman, leader of the Yisrael Beytenu party, accused opposition frontrunner Gadi Eisenkot on Friday of planning to form a government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party following the October 27 election. Liberman alleged that Eisenkot is intentionally siphoning votes from within the anti-Netanyahu bloc to increase his bargaining power in future negotiations with the Prime Minister, The Times of Israel reported.
Liberman alleges breach of opposition agreements
In a detailed statement, Liberman characterized the head of the centrist Yashar party as “Benny Gantz two,” referencing Gantz’s history of joining unity governments with Netanyahu in 2020 and 2023 after previously positioning himself as a top challenger. Liberman argued that Eisenkot’s current campaign to make Yashar the largest party in the Knesset violates agreements reached by opposition leaders during a meeting on September 26.
According to Liberman, Eisenkot’s strategy is not to win votes from the “draft-dodgers’ bloc”—referring to ultra-Orthodox parties—but to drain support from the “serving bloc.” Liberman claimed that Eisenkot intends to overtake Likud in seat count to enter government negotiations with Netanyahu from a position of strength. Ynetnews added that Liberman specifically accused Eisenkot of pursuing a coalition that could include ultra-Orthodox leaders Yitzhak Goldknopf and Aryeh Deri.
Liberman also criticized Eisenkot for being too lenient on demands for Haredi military service. He argued that military rank is no substitute for political experience, citing a pattern seen with former IDF chiefs including Ehud Barak and Yigael Yadin. Liberman suggested that Eisenkot had floated the option of a minority government to secure the first term in a rotating premiership. Liberman stated on Thursday that he rejects any minority government, even a transitional one, and refuses to participate in any coalition including Arab parties, Haredi parties, or Netanyahu himself. However, Liberman noted that Likud without Netanyahu could be a coalition partner, according to i24NEWS.
Eisenkot rejects claims and calls for ‘Zionist majority’
Gadi Eisenkot responded Friday by urging voters to “ignore the spin” and “not be rattled by the background noise,” though he did not name Liberman. Eisenkot stated he is seeking more than 61 Zionist seats in the 120-seat Knesset to secure a majority and replace the government in power during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks.
Eisenkot asserted that the leadership in office on October 7 must not remain for “even another day” and that the Israeli public will not forgive politicians who prioritize personal interests over the need for change. He told The Jerusalem Post that he did not consider them viable partners. He further criticized Netanyahu for lacking strategic military goals, stating that Hamas will remain in power as long as Netanyahu is in power.
Benny Gantz defended Eisenkot on X, stating that in 30 years in politics, Liberman has not done 10 percent of what he and Eisenkot have done for the state.
Polls show deadlock ahead of October 27 vote
The internal rift comes as Yashar has been leading in recent polls. Liberman’s accusations follow reports cited by Ynetnews regarding a possible initiative by President Isaac Herzog to establish a Netanyahu-Eisenkot government, as well as alleged briefings from the White House and comments from Likud Minister Miki Zohar regarding cooperation with Eisenkot.
Earlier in the week, Eisenkot had publicly rejected a government role for Netanyahu after Naftali Bennett suggested he could be a minister under certain conditions. This proposal was partly meant to counter Netanyahu’s claims that Eisenkot would rely on Mansour Abbas and Ahmad Tibi of the Joint List.
Israelis will head to the polls on October 27 to determine the composition of the next government.