Eisenkot explores minority gov't with UTJ abstention, Ra'am

Yashar! chairman Gadi Eisenkot has instructed aides to examine the possibility of forming a minority government under his leadership, based on abstention by United Torah Judaism and partial support from Ra'am, Ynet reported Sunday.

This could position Eisenkot's bloc at 49 mandates against 46 for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Political sources estimate, however, that the step may serve as an extreme scenario or as leverage in negotiations with Netanyahu over a unity government.

The plan, according to the report by Amir Ettinger, includes UTJ abstaining from the vote on swearing in the government, except for Ra'am MK Yoav Segalovitz, who would actively support the government, and without opposition from the Joint List. Senior figures in the change bloc have been attempting in recent days to assemble such a political safety net.

The main obstacles

Opposition from the right within the bloc: Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman has made clear he is firmly opposed to a government leaning on chareidim or Arab parties, "neither directly nor indirectly".
The draft law issue: The plan includes an attempt to secure a safety net from United Torah Judaism until a draft framework is found. However, Agudas Yisrael chairman MK Yitzchak Goldknopf made clear over the weekend in closed conversations that the faction does not intend to retreat from its demands. "We are standing on the demand for a draft law without targets and without sanctions," Goldknopf said. "This is not up for discussion, this is what the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah instructed us."
Contacts with Ra'am: Ra'am chairman Mansour Abbas is demanding to be part of the coalition, even if official support is limited.

MK Yitzchak Goldknopf in the Kikar Hashabbat studio

4. Dispute over Knesset speaker: The change bloc has not yet reached agreement on the identity of the candidate to replace Amir Ohana. Eisenkot and Liberman are promoting different candidates from their factions, Eisenkot demands the position for his faction, and Liberman demands it for MK Oded Forer.

Senior figures in United Torah Judaism confirmed that contacts are being conducted through intermediaries, but estimated that the chances of implementing the move are currently considered very slim. Even in the change bloc, they estimate it will be very difficult to reach a draft law text acceptable to all sides.

Yashar! responded: "We are acting with tremendous commitment to fulfill the voter's will in replacing the government of failure. At this stage, we will not comment on what is happening in closed rooms. The various publications are not on our behalf and do not necessarily describe reality as it is."

President Herzog (Photo: Yonatan Zindel/Flash90)

The political timeline for selecting the government-former: President Yitzchak Herzog is expected to begin consultations on Wednesday and receive the factions' recommendations by November 11. Herzog has called on the factions to come to consultations "with an open mind and an open heart".

The recommenders picture: Eisenkot is expected to lead with about 60 recommenders (even without Liberman's support), compared to 46 recommenders for Netanyahu.

The legal timetables: The candidate who receives the mandate will be given 28 days to form the government (with an option to extend for an additional 14 days). If he fails, the mandate will pass to another Knesset member for 28 days without extension, or a 21-day window will open for collecting 61 signatures. If all attempts fail, the Knesset will dissolve and Israel will go to repeat elections.