Bennett, Liberman risk splitting the anti-Netanyahu camp over who leads it – opinion

Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Liberman risk fracturing the anti-Netanyahu opposition by refusing to commit to Gadi Eisenkot as leader, even if his party, Yashar, wins the most seats. This stance, while politically strategic for Bennett and Liberman to retain their voter bases, diverts the opposition's focus from attracting undecided voters to internal competition. A more concerning possibility is that Bennett and Liberman might not recommend Eisenkot for prime minister post-election, potentially citing precedents like Bennett's 2021 premiership with fewer seats or forming a technical bloc to recommend one of themselves. Such a split in recommendations could inadvertently allow Benjamin Netanyahu to receive the mandate to form a government, despite the opposition potentially securing a Knesset majority.