Lieberman's stance threatens Eisenkot's bid for Israeli premiership

Gadi Eisenkot's prospects of forming a government after Israel's October 27 election are hampered by the position of Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beitenu party. A meeting between Eisenkot's Yashar! party and Lieberman on November 1 ended without Lieberman's commitment to support Eisenkot for prime minister, with the leader instead insisting that lawmaker Oded Forer become Knesset Speaker.

The speaker issue creates a parliamentary hurdle, as Arab parties are expected to oppose Forer, while rejecting him could jeopardize Lieberman's support for any alternative candidate. Netanyahu's Likud party has warned that replacing the current speaker, Amir Ohana, would end prospects for a unity government with Eisenkot, a warning Eisenkot's camp has dismissed, saying talks with Netanyahu remain off the table.

Lieberman also set strict red lines, stating he will not join a coalition that includes Arab factions, ultra-Orthodox parties, or the left-wing Democrats led by Yair Golan. In a post on X, he said, "As you know, with me, a word is a word, and everything I said before the elections remains valid after them as well. We will not sit with Bibi or with Tibi, not with Golan or with Deri. Not with Yasser Hujeirat and not with the rest of the terror supporters."

Lieberman added that only a coalition of Zionist parties, including Likud without Netanyahu, would be acceptable. Reports also indicate that President Isaac Herzog has floated a deal in which Netanyahu would serve as prime minister for two years before stepping down and receiving a pardon for his corruption trial, though it is unclear whether Lieberman would accept such an arrangement.

President Herzog is set to meet party leaders from November 4, after which he will assign the mandate to form a government to the lawmaker most likely to succeed. The appointed leader will have 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to assemble a coalition; failure could trigger a second mandate or new elections within 90 days. Netanyahu would remain caretaker prime minister during this period, giving him additional time in office regardless of coalition outcomes.