Bennett, Liberman risk splitting anti-Netanyahu camp over leadership

Opposition leaders Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Liberman are reportedly risking a split within the anti-Netanyahu camp by refusing to commit to Gadi Eisenkot's leadership.

This division centers on a fundamental question for the opposition: who will lead the bloc if they succeed in replacing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Eisenkot, leading the Yashar party, has been consistent, stating that whichever opposition party secures the most seats should receive the recommendation to form the next government. He has maintained this position even as his party's poll numbers have surged to around 24 seats.

However, Bennett and Liberman have not made the same commitment. In a recent interview, Bennett offered a lengthy and indirect response when asked about recognizing Eisenkot's lead, indicating he is not prepared to cede leadership based on current polling.

This reluctance to endorse Eisenkot's potential leadership is causing concern. It echoes past criticisms of Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid party, which was once described as lacking an ideological backbone and assembling a diverse group of candidates. Now, Bennett appears to be building a similar coalition, raising questions about unity and shared purpose.

The composition of party lists is also a point of interest. Bennett has been adding relatively unknown women and men to his list, possibly to broaden his appeal. Eisenkot, conversely, has been recruiting former Knesset members, suggesting a different strategy for building his political force. Both leaders, however, seem to be prioritizing loyalty, learning from past experiences where party members broke ranks and destabilized governments.