Yisrael Beiteinu leader signals willingness to compromise on draft law to aid coalition talks

Avigdor Liberman, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, announced on Friday that his party would consider flexibility on the military-conscription law as part of efforts to build a new coalition that does not include Benjamin Netanyahu. He reiterated three non-negotiable points: ending Netanyahu’s rule, avoiding another election, and rejecting any government that depends on abstentions by the Joint List and Ra’am.

Liberman said that, apart from those red lines, "flexibility and compromise are permissible and desirable" and that this includes the draft law. He acknowledged that the shift would be painful for him and others, but argued that the national interest must come first.

The move could open the way for cooperation with ultra-Orthodox parties, whose inclusion would be needed to reach a 61-seat majority without the Arab parties. While his party previously ruled out any compromise on universal service, Liberman’s statement marks a departure from that stance.

He also warned that a minority government reliant on Arab party abstentions would be unstable and could hasten Netanyahu’s return to power. Liberman ruled out any discussion of a rotation agreement for the premiership, stating that whoever forms the government should have full authority for the term.