Eisenkot Reportedly Explores Minority Government With Ra’am and UTJ Abstentions

Gadi Eisenkot, leader of Israel’s Yashar party, has reportedly authorized examination of a minority government that could take office if Ra’am and United Torah Judaism abstain in its initial confidence vote. The proposal reported on November 1 is an exploratory arrangement, rather than an announced coalition agreement. The reported scenario envisages 49 lawmakers voting for the government and 46 against, with 25 abstentions. United Torah Judaism’s seven members would abstain, alongside most Ra’am lawmakers and the Joint List. Ra’am and United Torah Judaism would then provide continuing parliamentary backing without immediately entering the coalition. Eisenkot’s bloc does not plan to negotiate an ongoing support arrangement with the Joint List. Yashar declined to discuss its internal deliberations and cautioned: “The various reports were not issued with our approval and do not necessarily reflect reality.” The office of United Torah Judaism’s chairman separately said that reports attributed to it without an official announcement should be regarded as denied. The proposal faces disagreements over both parliamentary support and military-service legislation. Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Liberman opposes dependence on Arab or Haredi parties. United Torah Judaism seeks arrangements for yeshiva students, while Eisenkot supports broader service obligations. Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas wants his party represented in the coalition. President Isaac Herzog is expected to begin consultations with faction representatives on November 4, according to the report.