Israel’s opposition seeks to oust Netanyahu, but offers no shared path to Palestinian statehood
Five opposition leaders have agreed to work together to remove Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel’s 27 October election, though their pact leaves open who would lead a coalition. Al Jazeera and Middle East Eye report that most of the bloc takes a right-wing position; the Democrats, led by Yair Golan, are the only party in it to back a two-state solution and openly support working with Arab parties.
Bottom line — Gadi Eisenkot leads the Change bloc in the polls, but forming a government will depend on coalition partners.
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Al Jazeera says five leaders signed a non-aggression pact on 26 September: Yair Lapid, Naftali Bennett, Gadi Eisenkot, Yair Golan and Avigdor Lieberman.
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Middle East Eye reports that Eisenkot opposes a two-state solution, which he considers unviable after 7 October, while rejecting formal West Bank annexation.
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Al Jazeera says the Democrats describe Palestinian statehood as a distant, unspecified goal; Middle East Eye says the party backs a two-state solution.
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Eisenkot has ruled out relying on Palestinian parties, according to Middle East Eye; Al Jazeera reports he has also ruled out including Ra’am in a coalition.
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Middle East Eye says polls forecast a deadlock, meaning either Netanyahu or his rivals will need smaller parties to form a government.
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The main opposition leaders share opposition to exemptions from military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews, but their positions on Palestinians and coalition partners differ, according to Al Jazeera.