Coalition talks: Eisenkot and ultra-Orthodox leaders clash on draft rules

Gadi Eisenkot, the leader of the Yashar party, told his faction on Tuesday that he would not abandon his promise of national service for all citizens. The pledge creates an immediate friction point for ordinary Israelis, as it directly challenges the long-standing exemptions enjoyed by ultra-Orthodox students. Eisenkot described the country as facing a watershed moment, citing security and economic pressures. He vowed to form a national emergency government without compromising on the principle that military, national, or civilian service applies to every citizen.

The tension is personal for the parties involved. Yashar won 48 seats in the election held in late October. United Torah Judaism, a party that has backed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for years, broke with him after he failed to pass legislation formally exempting yeshiva students from the draft. Despite this history, United Torah Judaism head Ya’akov Asher told the Kikar Hashabbat news site that his party will not join any coalition unless it meets three specific demands. These include conscription exemptions, unchanged funding for unregulated Haredi schools, and preservation of religious status quo laws.

Asher called the conscription issue the most important of the three. He stated that exemptions for yeshiva students and other learning institutes must be worked out, though he offered no details on the mechanism. "Without that there won’t be anything," he said. He also insisted that the state should not condition school funding on core curriculum requirements, arguing that the government should not be the one to educate their children.

Negotiations are already underway. Yitzhak Goldknopf, a United Torah Judaism lawmaker, told Channel 12 that preliminary contacts have taken place with Eisenkot’s camp. He said there is room for negotiations, though he noted that Netanyahu is also speaking with the party. Meanwhile, the rival ultra-Orthodox Shas party said it remains loyal to Netanyahu and is not in talks with other players. Shas cited a ruling by its rabbinic steering council that recommended Netanyahu for premier after he committed to a yeshiva law.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged Haredi parties to reject talks with Eisenkot. He warned that the new bloc would dump them after using them to oust Netanyahu. Smotrich also targeted Yashar MK Matan Kahana, urging him to refuse the Knesset speakership if it relies on votes from Arab parties. Smotrich called such an appointment illegitimate and a moral bankruptcy.

Avigdor Liberman, chair of Yisrael Beytenu, said he stands fully behind Eisenkot but rejected any reliance on the two Arab parties. He argued that a minority government would quickly collapse and return Netanyahu to power. Liberman said his party had to reassess its strategy after winning only 48 seats. He proposed a conscription law that survives High Court review, aiming for a formula that satisfies both the court and Rabbi Dov Lando, the spiritual leader of United Torah Judaism. He listed replacing the Knesset speaker, appointing a state comptroller, and limiting the prime minister’s tenure as first priorities.

The new Knesset is scheduled to be sworn in on Tuesday. Leaders of the opposition bloc plan to nominate former minister Matan Kahana for the speakership. Yair Golan, chair of the Democrats party, urged his colleagues to form a government quickly and not rule out Arab parties. He cited the role of Arab citizens in the healthcare system as a reason for inclusion. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said his B’Yachad party is working quietly to help Eisenkot build a Zionist coalition to replace the current government.

Liberman said he is confident a government with a 61-seat majority can be formed within a reasonable time. He specified that this number would include his bloc’s 48 seats and the 13 seats held by the two ultra-Orthodox parties. He said the first government decision will be to establish a state commission of inquiry into the events of October 7, 2023. He also said he will summon security chiefs to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee to question them on recent operations and intelligence assessments.