Eisenkot seeks 58-seat cabinet as Bennett and Liberman demand full majority

Israeli opposition leaders face a strategic fork in the road ahead of the next elections, with Gadi Eisenkot proposing a path to power that requires only 58 seats. This threshold sits three seats below the 61 required for a permanent Zionist majority, creating immediate friction within the anti-Netanyahu camp. The proposal aims to allow a government to take office quickly if polls hold the change-seeking bloc slightly below a full majority.

Eisenkot, who intends to lead the bloc, rejects any arrangement where Benjamin Netanyahu remains in power, even in a rotating role. His plan relies on a confidence vote where abstentions count in favor of the new government. Under this legal mechanism, a cabinet could be sworn in without 61 MKs actively voting yes, provided no 61 MKs vote no. The government would then work to expand its parliamentary support over time.

Avigdor Liberman opposes this minority model categorically. He insists on a Zionist majority from the start and rejects any reliance on Arab party votes or abstentions. Liberman stated that another election is preferable to a government that does not meet his conditions. He has suggested recruiting Likud MKs to join a cabinet without Netanyahu, although he has not named specific candidates and no formal talks are currently underway.

Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, who head the Beyachad list, share Liberman’s demand for a Zionist government. Bennett, who served as prime minister previously, views himself as a natural leader for the bloc. A meeting between Bennett and Liberman this week focused on increasing voter turnout but did not resolve their differences on the path to a majority. The leadership contest between Eisenkot and Bennett remains active, with both claiming the right to head the largest party.

The opposition bloc is also moving to replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana before any coalition deal is finalized. Controlling the speaker position would give opponents of Netanyahu control over the parliamentary agenda, even if he remains as caretaker leader. Names such as Chili Tropper, Meirav Ben-Ari, and Oded Forer have been raised, but no consensus candidate has been announced. Liberman estimated that one-third of outgoing coalition MKs might vote against Ohana, though they would need to do so publicly.

The bloc aims to advance several legislative priorities, including a state commission of inquiry into October 7 and changes to conscription laws. They also seek to limit the prime minister's tenure and repeal certain judicial reforms passed by the outgoing government. However, party teams have not agreed on the specific order or details of these changes. A new speaker does not guarantee a legislative majority, and the memory of the previous Bennett-Lapid government collapsing before completing its agenda continues to influence internal strategy.