Netanyahu’s ultra-Orthodox allies open to cooperation with Israeli opposition

Figures from two ultra-Orthodox parties allied with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled early Wednesday that they were open to cooperating with the opposition, as exit polls showed neither rival bloc reaching a parliamentary majority, Anadolu Agency reported.

An unnamed Shas official suggested the party could join a government led by Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot at a later stage, provided it accepted the terms of a military conscription law, Israel’s “Channel 12” reported.

The official said Eisenkot should initially leave vacant the ministerial posts important to Shas. The party might join later if a “reasonable” conscription law were introduced, the official said.

Separately, Yitzhak Goldknopf of the United Torah Judaism alliance did not rule out cooperation with Eisenkot’s bloc. Asked about the possibility in an interview with Kol Barama radio, Goldknopf said senior religious authorities would consider the matter and their decision would determine the party’s position, Israeli news website “Ynet” reported.

Democrats party leader Yair Golan supported seeking backing from Arab parties to secure a majority to replace Netanyahu. “Every Knesset member elected through a democratic and lawful process is a legitimate part of our political system,” Golan said, according to Israel’s Haaretz daily.

Golan said that if a democratic majority existed to replace the government, the opposition should act on it.

The remarks came as a revised “Channel 12” exit poll projected 52 seats for Netanyahu’s bloc, 49 for Eisenkot’s bloc and 19 for Arab parties. Updated exit polls from Israel’s public broadcaster and “Channel 13” put the two main blocs level at 51 seats each, with Arab parties projected to win 18.

None of the projections gave either bloc the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.

Turnout reached 77.7%, the highest since 1999, according to the Central Elections Committee.