First publication: Goldknopf will not vote against a government headed by Eisenkot

First publication: Chairman of the United Torah Judaism faction, MK Yitzhak Goldknopf, will not vote against the establishment of a government headed by Gadi Eisenkot. Sources in Agudat Yisrael say that Goldknopf and MK Yaakov Tessler, representatives of the Gur Hasidic dynasty, will abstain in the vote on forming a minority government. According to them, the other representatives of Agudat Yisrael and even the Lithuanians are expected to abstain as well. The implication: a tie between the blocs will not be enough for Netanyahu to secure his continued tenure.

First publication: Chairman of the United Torah Judaism faction, MK Yitzhak Goldknopf, will not vote against the establishment of a government headed by Gadi Eisenkot. Senior sources in Agudat Yisrael say that Goldknopf and MK Yaakov Tessler, representatives of the Gur Hasidic dynasty, will abstain in the vote on forming a minority government under his leadership, even if he does not achieve a majority of 61 Knesset members. According to them, the other representatives of Agudat Yisrael are expected to join the move, and they assess that eventually Degel HaTorah, the Lithuanian faction, will also abstain in the vote. Behind this stance is the desire of the Gur Hasidic dynasty to break the bloc with Netanyahu and signal to him that in their view his political path has ended. The Rebbe of Gur believes that Netanyahu has finished his path, and the dynasty does not intend to prevent the formation of a government headed by Eisenkot. Alongside this, they also hope to receive political compensation as part of the move. This development may change the mandate calculations ahead of the elections. Eisenkot emphasizes that he intends to work to form a government even if he does not achieve a majority of 61 Knesset members, but clarifies that he will not rely on non-Zionist parties. According to the position presented by sources in the Gur Hasidic dynasty, Netanyahu will need to achieve a lead of two mandates over Eisenkot's bloc to ensure that a government is not formed on the other side. In their view, even a bloc tie is no longer an insurance policy for Netanyahu's continued tenure after the elections.