Eisenkot's path to power challenged as Liberman rejects minority government backed by Arab parties

Live updates

1. 30m ago

   Eisenkot Coalition Bid Faces Hurdle as Liberman Rejects Minority Government

   Opposition challenger Gadi Eisenkot faces immediate hurdles in his attempt to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman rejected a minority government backed by Arab parties. Eisenkot has received the mandate to build a coalition following the October 27 election and claims progress in talks, driven by opposition willingness to ease stances on the ultra-Orthodox military draft. However, fierce disagreements over governance remain as Eisenkot and Liberman prepare to meet. Liberman has backed a compromise on Haredi enlistment while denying a secret backchannel with ultra-Orthodox parties.

   Why it matters

   Gadi Eisenkot emerged as the opposition leading candidate to unseat incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after accusing the prime minister of bringing Israel to a historic crisis. Coalition formation depends heavily on navigating deeply divisive policy issues, particularly military service exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox community. While opposition factions have eased their stance on the Haredi draft to build a viable coalition, political maneuvering continues to test the stability of the anti-Netanyahu bloc.

   What is confirmed

   • Gadi Eisenkot emerged as the opposition leading candidate to challenge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the October 27 vote.
   • Avigdor Liberman rejected a minority government backed by Arab parties.
   • Eisenkot received the mandate to build a coalition.
   • Liberman backed a compromise on Haredi enlistment while defending his draft principles.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Reports of a secret backchannel between Liberman and Haredi parties have circulated, which Liberman dismissed as lies.

   What to watch next

   • Upcoming meetings between Gadi Eisenkot and Avigdor Liberman regarding government formation.
   • Further developments in coalition talks concerning ultra-Orthodox enlistment compromises.
   Sources used for this update (25)

   1. www.theguardian.com — Unpolished, anti-Bibi, but evasive on peace: who is the ...
   2. www.cnn.com — Gadi Eisenkot: What to know about the main challenger to ...
   3. Yahoo — Israel opposition eases on ultra-Orthodox draft to oust Netanyahu
   4. The Times of Israel — Liberman backs ‘painful’ compromise on Haredi enlistment, after years fighting against their exemption
   5. France 24 — Israel's Eisenkot claims 'progress' in coalition talks as opposition eases on ultra-Orthodox draft
   6. Ynetnews — Eisenkot's path to power challenged as Liberman rejects minority government backed by Arab parties
   7. Haaretz — Analysis • Haredi party revels Lieberman's U-turn on draft, but doesn't assure a coalition
   8. The Jerusalem Post — Israel Election 2026 live updates: Eisenkot receives mandate to build coalition
   9. The Times of Israel — Eisenkot, Liberman to meet tomorrow amid disagreements over formation of government -- report
   10. The Jerusalem Post — Liberman defends haredi compromise amid coalition talks, vows not to abandon IDF draft principles
   11. The Times of Israel — Under fire for urging ‘compromise,’ Liberman says he still wants Haredim to serve
   12. The Jerusalem Post — Liberman's 2018 haredi draft law explained and compared
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