The cracks are deepening in the Israeli opposition as the Eisenkot coalition proposal provokes bitter infighting.
Deep divisions arise within the Israeli opposition bloc against Netanyahu less than two days after President Yitzhak Herzog tasked Gadi Eisenkot with forming a new government. According to Ata on November 9, the disputes over the coalition arrangements spilled over into public confrontations between Eisenkot, Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman and the chairman of the Democrats Yair Golan, while former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett remained mostly silent.
The main controversy concerns Eisenkot's proposal to establish a minority government with the outside support of the Palestinian Ream party.
Lieberman opposes the settlement, instead advocating a coalition that includes ultra-orthodox parties. He warned that pursuing a minority government would effectively give Netanyahu four more years in power within six months, calling it a "gift" to the prime minister.
Eisenkot responded with a warning that anyone who interferes with the formation of a government for personal reasons "will be remembered in history" for not saving Israel during a national emergency. He previously declared that those who try to sabotage coalition negotiations for personal interests "will not be forgiven."
Tensions increased when Golan accused Lieberman of compromising on military conscription for ultra-Orthodox men and canceling Israel's judicial overhaul, and suggested that he instead form a government with Netanyahu.
Lieberman dismissed the criticism as "a pile of stupidity and malice", and insisted that replacing the speaker of the Knesset, appointing a new state auditor, limiting prime ministers to two terms and repealing legislation for judicial amendment should take priority. He called anyone who suggested a different order "just an idiot."