Avigdor Liberman seeks compromise to oust Netanyahu

Avigdor Liberman, a secular nationalist and former ally of Benjamin Netanyahu, is calling for compromise with ultra-Orthodox parties as part of an effort to remove Netanyahu from power.

Liberman, 68, has long opposed exemptions that allow ultra-Orthodox Jews to avoid Israel's usually mandatory military service. Last week, he told his Yisrael Beiteinu party he was lifting a veto on working with ultra-Orthodox lawmakers and was ready to compromise on military service.

His party won seven seats, the fewest among the core opposition parties, but every vote is important for opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot. Liberman remains opposed to working with lawmakers from Israel's Arab minority, whose votes could help put Eisenkot in power.

Liberman served as Netanyahu's first chief of staff and helped him come to power in the 1996 election, but later became a critic. He resigned as defence minister in 2018 to protest the government's acceptance of a previous ceasefire with Hamas.

Liberman denied speculation that he was seeking a political deadlock that could make him a consensus candidate for prime minister. “I am not engaged in political manoeuvring, nor am I trying to undermine anyone,” he said.