Israel’s Opposition saw a new path on Friday (October 6, 2026) to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as one of its leaders backtracked on demands that ultra-Orthodox Jews serve in the military, opening the door to a once improbable alliance with the community.
His Yisrael Beiteinu party won seven seats, the fewest among the five core opposition parties. Mr. Eisenkot, a former military commander whose campaign sought to appeal to secular and liberal Israelis, could form a government with Israeli-Arabs, whose seat count soared on anger over Mr. Netanyahu’s far-right government. Eisenkot, as he has received the most endorsements thanks to support from Israeli-Arabs. Yaakov Asher, a lawmaker from the party, welcomed Mr.
President Isaac Herzog plans on Sunday (November 8, 2026) to announce who will have the first chance to form a government — most logically Mr.
Liberman’s U-turn and said that its rabbis would assess any formal proposal of an alliance. Naftali Bennett, a former Prime Minister, also ran heavily on promises to end the military exemption, repeatedly vowing “not one shekel” from the government for religious students who do not serve in the army.
But an alliance with Israeli-Arabs faces strong disagreement from Opposition partner Avigdor Liberman, a one-time aide to Mr. Netanyahu who now sharply criticises the Prime Minister but shares his hawkish views on the Palestinians. Mr. Listing the most important goals as removing Mr. Netanyahu and avoiding new elections, Mr.
Liberman said on Friday (November 6, 2026) he would not back down on refusing to work with Israeli-Arabs but called for talks with ultra-Orthodox Jews, even though he has berated the community for years and ran on promises to end its exemption from Israel’s mandatory military service.
Liberman said it was time to compromise and “understand that trying to have everything risks getting nothing”.
