Israel's Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot and Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman have agreed to negotiate directly with ultra-Orthodox factions in a bid to form the next government, Israeli media reported, despite longstanding disputes over military conscription exemptions.
During talks on Monday, Eisenkot and Lieberman agreed to "exhaust all avenues of negotiation with the ultra-Orthodox parties before turning to the option of forming an alternative government," according to Channel 13.
Eisenkot formally asked Lieberman to help lead discussions to build common ground.
The strategic step defers the option of establishing a minority administration reliant on outside confidence from Arab parties until talks with Haredi leaders conclude.
Initial discussions between Eisenkot and United Torah Judaism have already commenced.
Race for Knesset majority
Together, United Torah Judaism (seven seats) and Shas (six seats) command 13 seats in the 120-member Knesset.
Joining Eisenkot’s Jewish opposition bloc of 48 seats would give an incoming coalition exactly the 61 seats required to unseat outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Military conscription remains the central dividing line.
Haredi factions insist on preserving exemptions for seminary students, whilst the "Change Bloc" has consistently demanded universal conscription.
Lieberman, historically a fierce opponent of draft exemptions, signalled a willingness to compromise to oust Netanyahu, suggesting his 2018 conscription bill could serve as a framework whilst maintaining service red lines.
According to Channel 12, ultra-Orthodox parties have laid down four coalition conditions: issuing a temporary order freezing the conscription of seminary students, halting arrests of draft evaders without financial penalties, and securing legal approvals from the attorney general and Knesset legal advisers.
Should talks collapse, Eisenkot could theoretically assemble a minority administration relying on confidence votes from Arab parties, whose 19 seats would lift the anti-Netanyahu bloc to 67.
However, Lieberman has rejected any arrangement that depends on Arab support.
President Isaac Herzog formally tasked Eisenkot with building a government on Sunday evening after receiving 67 recommendations, compared with 46 for Netanyahu.
Eisenkot has 28 days to conclude coalition talks, with a possible 14-day extension.
