Liberman offers 2018 draft bill as basis for new coalition talks
The proposal is less stringent than the 2025 legislation his party criticized, featuring lower enrollment targets and fewer personal penalties for non-compliance.
By Chioma Kuznetsov ·
Avigdor Liberman is proposing a 2018 law as a starting point for new government negotiations, a move that contrasts with the tougher 2025 legislation his party previously rejected. On Sunday, the opposition leader stated he is open to forming a government with ultra-Orthodox parties that oppose universal military service, provided the 2018 bill serves as the foundation for agreement.
Liberman broke from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2019 over disagreements regarding Haredi military service, a rift that contributed to a long-standing political deadlock. When the Netanyahu coalition released its own enlistment bill last year, Liberman’s party called it an evasion law. However, the 2018 bill now being put forward is weaker in several key respects compared to the 2025 version.
The 2025 bill drafted by Boaz Bismuth imposed direct penalties on individual draft evaders. Under that proposal, Haredi men who did not report for service would lose their driver’s licenses, face travel restrictions until age 23, and become ineligible for scholarships and tax credits. Liberman’s 2018 bill does not penalize individuals. Instead, it targets Haredi institutions, reducing school funding if enlistment rates fall below 95 percent of the target.
The enrollment numbers in the two bills also differ sharply. Liberman’s 2018 legislation set the first-year target at 3,348 recruits, with annual increases of 5 to 8 percent, reaching 6,844 by the tenth year. Bismuth’s 2025 bill required 8,160 conscripts in the first year, rising to 8,500 by the fourth year. Additionally, the 2025 bill exempts full-time yeshiva students, while the 2018 bill appears to treat them the same as other draftees.
Bismuth, the architect of the 2025 bill, criticized Liberman on social media on Sunday. He described Liberman as a softie who would do anything for a government seat, arguing that the move would disturb political stability rather than contribute to security. Bismuth noted that Liberman had sold his supporters a tough image before offering a weaker alternative.
Liberman acknowledged that the 2018 bill requires amendment following the October 7, 2023, attack and the subsequent war. The Israel Defense Forces has stated it needs 12,000 new soldiers to fill its ranks, a demand that did not exist when the 2018 bill was drafted. Despite the changes needed, Liberman maintains that a single enlistment law for everyone remains the ideal model.
Political commentators view the prospect of an alliance between Liberman and the ultra-Orthodox parties as unlikely. They argue that the Haredi leaders are unlikely to sever their longstanding alliance with Netanyahu to deliver a government to his rivals. Liberman said on Sunday that given the election results, the opposition must examine possibilities for reaching agreements based on past outlines.
