Israel's opposition bloc is exploring a new political pathway to potentially unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following a tactical shift from one of its prominent members regarding the military exemption of ultra-Orthodox Jews. Avigdor Liberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, indicated on November 6, 2026, that he is prepared to abandon his long-standing demand to end the military service exemption for the ultra-Orthodox community in order to prioritise the removal of the current Prime Minister and prevent another cycle of elections.
The move comes in the wake of the October 27 national election, which left both Mr. Netanyahu and opposition chief Gadi Eisenkot without a clear majority in the Knesset. As Israel remains deeply polarised after three years of conflict, the formation of a stable government has proven elusive. Mr. Eisenkot, a former military commander, is currently viewed as the most likely candidate to be tasked by President Isaac Herzog with forming a government, largely due to endorsements from Arab-led political factions.
However, an alliance between the mainstream opposition and Arab lists faces significant resistance from Mr. Liberman, who remains staunchly opposed to such a coalition. By softening his stance on the conscription law, Mr. Liberman has opened a potential door to an alliance with the ultra-Orthodox parties, United Torah Judaism and Shas. These two parties, which hold a combined 13 seats, could provide the necessary numbers for Mr. Eisenkot to reach a majority, provided the legislative disputes over military service can be set aside.
Mr. Liberman, who previously campaigned heavily on the promise of ending the military exemptions for religious students, acknowledged the difficulty of his decision. In a statement released on social media, he remarked, "This pains me, and I know it pains many others as well. But given the full range of challenges we face today, the national interest of the State of Israel and the Jewish people must take precedence over all other considerations." He added that "trying to have everything risks getting nothing" when assessing the current political landscape.
The issue of military service has long been a source of social friction in Israel, particularly as reservists have faced consecutive deployments during recent wars. While Mr. Netanyahu has historically relied on the support of ultra-Orthodox parties, he has stopped short of formalising the exemption into law, a move that recently caused tension between his administration and the religious factions. United Torah Judaism notably declined to support Mr. Netanyahu during consultations with President Herzog on November 5, though they have not yet committed to supporting Mr. Eisenkot.
Response to Mr. Liberman’s pivot has been cautious but attentive. Yaakov Asher, a lawmaker from United Torah Judaism, welcomed the potential for flexibility, stating that the party's rabbis would evaluate any formal proposals. Mr. Asher noted that it was encouraging to see movement on the conscription issue, while expressing regret over the past political animosity surrounding the topic.
As President Herzog prepares to announce which leader will be given the mandate to form a government on November 8, opposition figures are voicing renewed optimism. Yair Golan, a leader of the left-wing opposition, indicated that substantive negotiations are currently underway. The coming days remain critical as political actors weigh the costs of ideological compromise against the goal of shifting the leadership of the Israeli government.
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