Political meetings in the Knesset: Yaakov Asher meets Liberman, and Gadi Eisenkot meets Lapid

In depth

Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot and Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman met and expressed confidence in their ability to form a stable government for four years. The two met as part of contacts to form the next government, amid difficulties in assembling a coalition majority and differing positions on cooperation with the Arab parties. The parties described the meeting as businesslike and good, and said they were confident in their ability to form a stable government for four years.

MK Yaakov Asher of United Torah Judaism also met with Liberman in Liberman's office, after a lengthy meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Asher's office said the meeting was spontaneous, and that Liberman was sitting in the room opposite and was out of coffee, so he came to borrow some. In the change bloc, there is concern that the United Torah Judaism chairman is exploiting Liberman's willingness to hold contacts to send a signal to Netanyahu.

Meanwhile, Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot met with former prime minister Yair Lapid. The two discussed coordinating moves ahead of the 26th Knesset and a commitment to forming a national emergency government as soon as possible, according to the party's statement. Later today, Eisenkot is expected to meet with Democrats chairman Yair Golan. The issue of the Knesset speakership has not yet been decided, and in the change bloc an agreement is emerging on Eisenkot's candidacy for Knesset speaker, unless a last-minute change occurs.