Netanyahu, Smotrich, Ben-Gvir coordinate to block left govt

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held separate meetings Thursday with his two senior coalition partners, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The meetings focused on coordinating moves to counter intensive opposition efforts to form a minority government with the abstention of United Torah Judaism.

Netanyahu met with Smotrich during the day to discuss the political steps needed to prevent a left-wing government from taking power. The meeting continues the close coordination between the two that has marked the entire election campaign.

Later in the evening, Netanyahu held an extended meeting with Ben-Gvir. According to sources, the two discussed how to preserve the right-wing government and prevent the formation of a left-wing government backed by terror supporters.

The meetings come against the backdrop of intensive contacts in recent days to form a minority government with United Torah Judaism's abstention. Senior figures in the opposition bloc are attempting to engineer a complex political move: United Torah Judaism would provide a safety net for Gadi Eisenkot, which would bring Netanyahu's bloc down to 46 seats and raise Eisenkot's bloc to 55 seats.

The price United Torah Judaism is demanding in exchange for abstaining in the swearing-in vote is an agreed draft law and regulation of the status of yeshiva students. Senior figures in United Torah Judaism confirmed that talks are indeed taking place through intermediaries, but the chances of such a move are considered extremely slim.

Rosh Yeshiva HaGaon Rav Dov Lando shlita gave clear instructions to Degel HaTorah's Knesset members: to open talks with the opposition bloc as well, with the goal of regulating the status of yeshiva students. "Make every effort to regulate the status of yeshiva students. We are not in anyone's bloc — we are in the bloc of the Torah world," the rosh yeshiva clarified.

The central unknown in the political equation is Avigdor Lieberman's position. In a statement he released Thursday, Lieberman did not speak of relying on the chareidim but of sitting in government with them. He made clear: "We will not sit with Bibi and not with Tibi, not with Goldknopf and not with Deri. Not directly and not indirectly."

A senior source in Yisrael Beiteinu told Kikar Hashabbat Friday with a sharp statement on the draft law: "Lieberman made clear yesterday that the first law in any government he is part of will be a draft law for everyone." The source added and emphasized: "This is a statement that comes after the elections. This is a central principle we will not budge from, even at the price of elections. We will not sell out the fighters for power — conscription for all with zero exemptions."

In the opposition bloc, there are fears that United Torah Judaism will flee at the moment of truth, and therefore they are testing loyalty. United Torah Judaism claims in closed conversations that if they indeed succeed in regulating the draft issue, Shas will join the move in the next stage.