Eisenkot Considers Minority Government with Ra’am and UTJ Support

Gadi Eisenkot is examining the possibility of establishing a minority government that would rely on support from Ra’am and abstentions from United Torah Judaism, as reported by Ynet. This arrangement could enable Eisenkot's bloc, which holds 48 seats, to gain a total of 49 votes with the backing of Ra’am lawmaker Yoav Segalovitz. If United Torah Judaism withholds its seven votes from Prime Minister Netanyahu, his opposing bloc would decrease from 53 seats to 46.

The proposal also anticipates that the Joint List would abstain from voting against the government. However, Eisenkot's bloc is not looking to negotiate with the Joint List, focusing instead on their willingness to facilitate Netanyahu's replacement. Ahmad Tibi, a lawmaker from the Joint List, has expressed the party's intention to oust Netanyahu's government.

This potential arrangement remains in the exploratory phase and would necessitate significant compromises among parties with differing priorities. Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman has publicly opposed any government reliant on Arab or ultra-Orthodox parties, presenting a significant hurdle for the proposed coalition.

Eisenkot's team is reportedly assessing whether United Torah Judaism could support the government from outside the coalition until legislation concerning military service exemptions is passed, after which they might formally join. However, reaching such an agreement could prove challenging, as conscription exemptions are a key priority for the ultra-Orthodox party, while the extent of concessions Eisenkot would be willing to make remains unclear.

Ra’am’s demands also need consideration, with party leader Mansour Abbas seeking inclusion in the coalition, even if Segalovitz is the only representative in the government. The minority government option could serve as leverage in negotiations with Netanyahu regarding a potential unity government, although many within Eisenkot's bloc are resistant to this idea.

The parties aiming to replace Netanyahu have not yet reached a consensus on a candidate for Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana's position, with Eisenkot advocating for his faction to receive the role while Lieberman is pushing for Yisrael Beytenu lawmaker Oded Forer. In response to the developments, Eisenkot’s Yashar party reaffirmed its commitment to replacing the current government but refrained from commenting on internal discussions, stating that various reports do not necessarily reflect their position.