United Torah Judaism Sources Say They Prefer Liberman to Eisenkot for Premier

Unnamed sources in United Torah Judaism said Sunday evening, November 8, that they would prefer Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman to Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot as prime minister if faced with that choice. The sources based their preference on their previous experience of working with Liberman. “We have worked with him…” they said, describing him as someone they knew how to work with and who kept his word. The report said neither candidate had yet spoken directly with the Haredi representatives and that preliminary contacts were taking place through intermediaries. It named Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, former Liberman adviser on Haredi affairs Avi Abuhatzeira and Ashdod businessman Jacky Ben Zaken as involved on Liberman’s side. Liberman denied reports that intermediaries were acting on his behalf in a post on his own account that evening. His denial specifically named Lion and Abuhatzeira. He also denied that there had been any direct or indirect discussion of a reported freeze of the arrest law. On Eisenkot’s side, the report named David Shapira as handling political contacts. It said United Torah Judaism was waiting for direct conversations with both candidates, which it expected after Eisenkot received the mandate to form a government that day.