🔶 Lieberman's support for Eisenkot; Netanyahu's opponents are on the way to forming a government.
Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the "Prisoners of our Home" party, announced that Gadi Eisenkot will be appointed as the president to form the future government of the Israeli prisoners and supports Yair Lapid's presidency of the parliament.
This position has brought Benjamin Netanyahu's opponents closer to each other on the background of the prime ministerial candidate, but the dispute over cooperation with Arab parties is still an obstacle to forming a government.
At a press conference on Monday, November 2, Lieberman rejected both participation in the government with Netanyahu and the establishment of a minority government based on the support of Arab parties. His party won seven seats in last week's elections.
The announcement of Lieberman's decision was received prior to Yitzhak Herzog's consultations with the representatives of the parties; Consultations are expected to begin on Wednesday.
Naftali Bennett, the former Prime Minister of Israel in captivity and leader of the Behem coalition, said on Sunday that he would appoint Eisenkot to form the government. The Democratic Party led by Yair Golan also announced its support for the candidacy of the head of the "Ishar" party shortly after Lieberman's press conference.
However, Golan wants to form a coalition with Arab parties; An option Lieberman absolutely rejects.
The pro-Netanyahu parties won 53 seats, the opposition bloc won 48 seats, and mainly Arab parties won 19 seats. Therefore, neither of the two main blocs alone has a majority of 61 seats in parliament.