Opposition says it is gaining ground to form government after ultra-Orthodox policy shift
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Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot said talks are moving ahead after Avigdor Liberman signaled he may discuss conscription for ultra-Orthodox Jews, creating new coalition options against Benjamin Netanyahu's rule.
Israel's opposition said it has made headway in its push to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Avigdor Liberman reversed course on ultra-Orthodox military service, exposing fresh cracks in the political order. Opposition chief Gadi Eisenkot said he expects President Isaac Herzog to assign him the mandate to form a government when the president announces his decision on Sunday.
Eisenkot wrote on X that the bloc had achieved "significant progress and breakthroughs, quietly and modestly, with much still happening behind the scenes," underscoring how far the negotiations have advanced. Left-wing opposition leader Yair Golan said he felt more optimistic than he did on the Wednesday after the election, reflecting growing confidence inside the anti-Netanyahu camp.
Liberman, who leads the Yisrael Beiteinu party, again rejected any cooperation with Israeli-Arab parties, but he also indicated openness to talks with ultra-Orthodox groups despite having campaigned on ending their draft exemption. He warned that trying to satisfy every side could leave the process stuck and produce nothing at all.
Ultra-Orthodox parties hold 13 seats in the Knesset, enough to tip a coalition in Eisenkot's favor if the opposition can hold together. Lawmaker Yaakov Asher of United Torah Judaism welcomed the apparent flexibility on conscription, saying that greater cooperation could have eased recent social tensions.
Eisenkot reaffirmed his commitment to mandatory service for all citizens, arguing that civilian roles could still meet the requirement for ultra-Orthodox participation. He urged parties to join his effort now or later, hinting at the possibility of a minority government backed from outside by other lawmakers.
The opposition also said the current government threatens Israeli democracy amid ongoing military conflicts, framing the struggle not just as a power contest but as a fight over the country's political future.