Liberman cuts contact with Eisenkot and Bennett as he favors Eisenkot joining a Netanyahu unity government

Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Liberman has largely cut off contact with fellow opposition leaders Gadi Eisenkot and Naftali Bennett as Israel’s post-election coalition deadlock deepens, according to a Channel 12 report.

Liberman is reportedly not answering calls from Eisenkot or Bennett, although some communication continues between their campaign teams.

Despite distancing himself from the opposition leadership, Liberman has not changed his own coalition conditions. He says he will not join a government led by Benjamin Netanyahu and will not support a minority government dependent on Arab parties.

Channel 12 reported that Liberman expects growing pressure on Eisenkot to enter a unity government with Netanyahu and would prefer Eisenkot to make that decision himself.

Liberman also does not currently consider an opposition attempt to replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana a realistic option under the emerging parliamentary arithmetic.

The latest results leave Netanyahu’s bloc without the 61 seats required for a majority, while the Jewish-led opposition also cannot form a government without additional support.

The deadlock has intensified discussion of a broad Netanyahu-Eisenkot unity government, another election or an alternative coalition arrangement involving parties currently divided over cooperation with Arab lawmakers.