Former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot, tasked with forming a government to replace Benjamin Netanyahu, is exploring a contentious alliance with ultra-Orthodox parties, The Washington Post reports. Such a deal would rewrite coalition maths and force his centrist security bloc to ease — at least for a while — its pledge of universal conscription.

According to The Times of Israel and Kan, Eisenkot and Avigdor Liberman (Yisrael Beytenu) on Monday greenlit talks with Shas and United Torah Judaism. The offer reportedly includes a “softened” draft law and a 12–18 month transition with no meaningful enlistment, sanctions or arrests for draft refusal.

Haredi parties are also said to want assurances from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and the Defence Committee’s legal adviser that the arrangement would survive legal scrutiny — possibly via legislation, not just a government decision. Senior UTJ rabbis are interested, Kan says, but the party has not been formally approached yet.

Liberman reportedly urged Eisenkot to reject cooperation with Arab parties and court the ultra-Orthodox instead, arguing an Arab-backed coalition would be unstable and that Netanyahu “wants” that path. He also told Eisenkot he is not seeking the premiership himself.

Eisenkot’s bloc holds 48 seats, short of 61. Leaders are also discussing replacing Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana; Haaretz suggests Eisenkot himself may take the post temporarily for Yashar. UTJ has said it will not vote to replace Ohana before a government is formed.

Netanyahu is trying, Channel 12 reports, to press ultra-Orthodox spiritual leaders against an Eisenkot government; some rabbis have refused meetings. Talks with the Haredim are still early, and any conscription compromise remains politically explosive.

Image: Gadi Eisenkot (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0).

Sources consulted: Israeli opposition eyes deal with ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties to oust Netanyahu — The Washington Post.