Lieberman Softens Stance on Ultra-Orthodox Parties and Draft Law

Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman has softened his stance on cooperation with ultra-Orthodox parties, signaling a potential shift just days after the elections. During a briefing with journalists, Lieberman avoided repeating his explicit campaign pledge to boycott religious factions, stating instead that the situation would evolve.

Evolving Stance on the Draft Law

Lieberman, who had placed the fight against military service exemptions at the center of his campaign under the slogan "100% for the soldiers, 0% for the draft dodgers," also adjusted his position on the enlistment bill. While he previously promised to pass the legislation as the incoming government's first priority, he noted that legislating a draft law is currently unrealistic.

When asked by Israeli media journalist Avraham Hasson to rank his core campaign commitments—which included ruling out joining a coalition with Benjamin Netanyahu, refusing a minority government, and boycotting both Arab and ultra-Orthodox parties—Lieberman placed rejecting Netanyahu and avoiding a minority government at the top of his priority scale, omitting the absolute boycott of religious parties from his primary objectives.

Campaign Background and Past Rhetoric

Throughout the campaign, Lieberman had insisted that Yisrael Beytenu would not sit in a coalition with Shas or United Torah Judaism, describing them as parties that have pushed Israel toward a religious legal system. He previously demanded severe sanctions against draft evaders, including the revocation of allowances and travel bans, and maintained a fierce political rivalry with the ultra-Orthodox leadership for years.

Despite the recent remarks, Lieberman has not formally announced that he will join a government with Shas or United Torah Judaism. However, his refusal to completely rule out the possibility, coupled with a more flexible approach to the enlistment legislation, marks a notable departure from his pre-election rhetoric.