The Eisenkot bypass: Lapid and Lieberman met in Nokdim
Lapid and Lieberman agreed to focus on responsibility for the October 7 massacre, the cost of living, the loss of governance, and Israel's international standing. The meeting took place with Bennett's knowledge, and in the background, coordination between him and Lieberman is strengthening ahead of the day after the elections. One possibility: a joint move that would require Eisenkot to waive the premiership and join as a senior partner.
Yisrael Beiteinu chairman, MK Avigdor Lieberman, and opposition leader, MK Yair Lapid, met this evening (Saturday) in Nokdim as part of the coordination between opposition party leaders ahead of the elections. The two agreed to focus on the central issues on the agenda, including responsibility for the October 7 massacre, the cost of living, the loss of governance, and the severe damage to Israel's international standing.
The meeting took place with the knowledge of Naftali Bennett, who did not participate due to the Sabbath. Lapid and Lieberman have been in good relations for years, but in the background, the axis between Lieberman and Bennett is also tightening — an axis that could become particularly significant if a majority for forming a government without Benjamin Netanyahu is created after the elections.
During the meeting, Lieberman emphasized that votes must not be scattered and that repeating past mistakes must be avoided. According to him, one should not vote for "atmosphere parties" that might not pass the electoral threshold — a message that connects to the growing discourse in the bloc regarding mergers, coordination, and preventing the loss of votes.
The battle for leading the bloc
However, behind the coordination between the opposition leaders, the question of who will lead the bloc if a majority for forming a government without Netanyahu is created after the elections is already hovering. In the background, there is a possibility that Bennett and Lieberman will coordinate positions after the elections and try to convince Gadi Eisenkot to waive the demand for the premiership and join the move as a senior partner.
"Hayom" commentator Moshe Klughaft wrote earlier this month about a scenario according to which, if the Zionist opposition parties together obtain 61 mandates, Bennett and Lieberman might announce a technical union after the elections. According to his analysis, such a move could create a framework of more than 20 mandates, which could present its own candidate for forming the government and only then turn to Eisenkot.
Klughaft also noted that the fact that Bennett and Lieberman have so far refrained from committing to transfer the premiership to Eisenkot might be significant in such a scenario. According to the scenario he presented, the two might try to establish the central skeleton of the coalition together, and then add Eisenkot and other parties.
