**Chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu Party, MK Avigdor Lieberman:**
**Gadi Eisenkot – Benny Gantz 2.0**
The “largest party” campaign being run by Eisenkot is not intended to shift a single vote from the bloc of draft dodgers to the bloc of those who serve. Instead, it is designed to siphon votes from within our own bloc.
This is in complete contradiction to the agreements reached among the bloc’s leaders at their last meeting on September 26. It undermines unity and raises one simple question: What is really behind this move?
As time goes on, the picture is becoming increasingly clear. Gadi Eisenkot is planning for the day after the elections. What interests him is not becoming the largest party in the bloc of those who serve, but rather becoming larger than Likud and entering negotiations to form a government with Netanyahu from a position of strength.
When I hear Minister Miki Zohar discussing the possibility of cooperation with Eisenkot, read reports about President Herzog’s initiative to establish a Netanyahu–Eisenkot government, and hear the briefings coming from the White House, the pieces begin to fall into place.
The positions taken by Eisenkot’s associates on military conscription and the constitution only reinforce these concerns.
In the past, Eisenkot described Shas as “a party with very broad Zionist elements.” Meanwhile, his military conscription proposal includes allowing deferments for up to 3% of each annual draft cohort—approximately 4,500 students per year—and establishing an administrative body to determine who qualifies as a Torah scholar.
The implication is that nothing will change. The exemption from IDF service will remain in place.
Yisrael Beiteinu, by contrast, has been completely consistent on this issue, long before Eisenkot ever dreamed of entering politics.
**Universal military service and a constitution for Israel are not election slogans for us.**
Back in 2019, we refused to join a coalition, despite pressure and political incentives, because of the military conscription law.
The claims that Yisrael Beiteinu’s positions are intended to “prevent the formation of a government led by Eisenkot” are equally baseless.
We do not change our principles according to opinion polls, nor do we adjust them to suit coalition negotiations.
Our positions are crystal clear, both before and after elections.
The same applies to the Arab parties.
Since the October 7 massacre, I have repeatedly made it clear:
**Yisrael Beiteinu will not join a coalition that depends on Ra’am or the Joint List—not through direct support and not through indirect support.**
And for anyone who needs a reminder as to why, just look at the facts.
On January 7, 2024, MK Ofer Cassif signed a petition supporting the case brought by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, accusing Israel of genocide and crimes against humanity.
And on October 8, 2026, during an interview with i24NEWS, Ra’am MK Yasser Hujirat was asked a simple question:
“Is Hamas a terrorist organization?”
His answer was:
“It is an organization, part of which is a charitable organization, and there is another part that is more responsible for obtaining the right to exist and the right to recognition as a state.”
I repeat, in the clearest possible terms:
**Anyone who wants to form a government and rely on Cassif and Hujirat is welcome to do so. Yisrael Beiteinu will not be part of it.**
My conclusion from Eisenkot’s conduct is that he is working toward forming a government with Netanyahu, Goldknopf, and Deri, while keeping the option of a minority government on the table as leverage against Netanyahu in order to secure the first term in a rotating premiership.
Unfortunately, I see far more personal ambition here than a genuine desire to correct the injustices of the government of draft dodgers. > >