Eisenkot weighs minority government with outside backing from Arab and Haredi parties

Key Points:

• Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar! party, is exploring a plan to form Israel's next government with outside support from the Arab Ra'am party and the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, allowing his government to take office without these parties formally joining the coalition.
• The arrangement relies on Ra'am and United Torah Judaism abstaining from opposing Eisenkot's government in a crucial parliamentary vote, with one Ra'am lawmaker voting in favor, enabling a minority government to be established.
• Significant challenges include opposition from Avigdor Liberman, who rejects any government dependent on Arab or ultra-Orthodox parties, and unresolved disputes over military conscription exemptions demanded by United Torah Judaism.
• While the Joint List would abstain from opposing the government initially, it would not provide ongoing support, contrasting with Ra'am and United Torah Judaism, whose continued backing would be essential for government stability.
• The proposal is one of several options Eisenkot is considering to replace Netanyahu and may also be used as leverage in unity government negotiations, though internal disagreements remain over leadership roles such as the Knesset speaker position.