Bennett's stance on haredi coalition deal draws questions within Eisenkot bloc

Naftali Bennett's position on a proposed government involving the haredi parties is drawing scrutiny from potential coalition partners, according to political sources within Gadi Eisenkot's bloc on Friday. Negotiations have exposed differences over both the process of assembling a coalition and the concessions on military conscription that an agreement might require.

Eisenkot and Avigdor Liberman both want the haredi, or ultra-Orthodox, parties to join the government, but they disagree about how to secure their participation. Their dispute centers on timing and whether an agreement with Shas can be reached at the current stage of the talks.

Eisenkot favors moving ahead in stages because he believes waiting for Shas chairman Arye Deri could hold up the government's formation. Liberman believes both haredi parties can be brought into an agreement from the beginning. He would prefer to secure their participation immediately rather than depend on Shas entering the coalition later.

Other leaders in the bloc have voiced support for Eisenkot and confidence in his judgment without setting out clear positions on the proposed arrangements. They are not currently handling the negotiations with the haredi parties. Bennett's stance is also unclear, particularly on the compromises over military service that Eisenkot's framework could entail.

A source within the bloc said Bennett had kept a low profile on the contentious negotiations while Eisenkot and Liberman faced criticism for their approaches. Liberman has drawn criticism for dropping his opposition to including the haredi parties, while Eisenkot has faced attacks over his willingness to bring them into government, the source said.

The same source questioned the contrast between Bennett's silence on those negotiations and his continued emphasis on supporting people who perform military service. In a Facebook post, Bennett reiterated his commitment to equality in service and said shifting funds from people avoiding conscription to those serving would be a leading priority in the coming term.

Questions about Bennett's intentions have also accompanied his limited media exposure. When the Knesset session opened, his faction released a short statement instead of holding a meeting accessible to the media, leaving journalists without an opportunity to ask questions. Bennett has continued to maintain a low media profile as government formation talks proceed.

Some figures in the bloc suspect Bennett may consider another election a chance to improve his political position rather than commit to the current coalition framework. That remains their assessment, not a position he has publicly stated. Those sources believe his emphasis on equal military service and opposition to draft evasion, central themes of his campaign, could also serve him in another election.

Meanwhile, members of Bennett's electoral list have discussed their willingness to advance conscription legislation through agreements with the haredi parties. Private discussions within the bloc nevertheless reflect concern that prospective partners differ over how to form the government and what compromises to accept. Bennett's eventual response to the proposed framework remains unresolved.