Opposition leaders rally behind Eisenkot ahead of Israeli coalition talks

Israel’s opposition parties moved toward a shared candidate for prime minister on Monday, with Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Liberman and Yair Golan backing Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government. Their support comes before President Isaac Herzog’s consultations with parliamentary factions, which are expected to begin Wednesday.

Yashar announced that Eisenkot would meet Tuesday morning with Bennett of B’Yachad, Liberman of Yisrael Beytenu, Golan of The Democrats and outgoing opposition leader Yair Lapid of B’Yachad. It will be their first joint meeting since the elections. Bennett announced his recommendation on Sunday, while Liberman confirmed his backing at a Monday press briefing. The Democrats announced their support shortly afterward.

The endorsements leave unresolved how the parties could assemble a governing majority. Netanyahu’s bloc secured 53 Knesset seats, compared with 48 for the opposition bloc and 19 for the Arab parties. The opposition therefore needs additional support to reach the 61 seats required for a majority. Recommendations from the opposition and Arab parties could give Eisenkot a total of 67, potentially leading Herzog to assign him the task of forming a government.

Liberman, whose party won seven seats, reiterated that he would not join a government with Netanyahu or support a minority administration dependent on the Arab parties. Golan has advocated forming a coalition with those parties, highlighting a disagreement within the opposition. Liberman said Monday that he had met with Golan and was also in contact with members of Likud’s Knesset slate, suggesting they might join the opposition bloc.

Liberman appeared more open to cooperation with the ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism than he had been before the election, when he ruled out partnering with them. He said he could work with anyone who accepted his principles and legislation to conscript ultra-Orthodox men. He also opposed holding another election, describing it as “a very bad option,” and said he was working to establish a government quickly.

The Arab parties have indicated a willingness to cooperate with the opposition to replace Netanyahu. Leaders of the Joint List and Ra’am held their first postelection coordination meeting Monday. Ahmad Tibi, second on the Joint List’s Knesset slate, said the aim was to replace the government of Netanyahu, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich with a new government of change.

A separate effort is taking shape over control of parliament. Opposition leaders have reportedly agreed to seek the removal of Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, a Likud member, after the new legislature is sworn in on November 10. With Arab party support, the move could attract 67 votes. Replacing the speaker would give the opposition more influence over legislation, parliamentary votes and committee appointments, including while Netanyahu remained caretaker prime minister.

Liberman confirmed Monday that Yisrael Beytenu would support Lapid for speaker, following reports that he had favored his party colleague Oded Forer. He said signatures would be collected the following Tuesday to replace Ohana. Meanwhile, coalition negotiations could still produce an agreement, a unity government involving Netanyahu and members of Eisenkot’s bloc, or a minority administration. If the deadlock persists, another election remains possible.