Liberman Softens Draft Law Stance to Break Coalition Deadlock

Israeli politician Avigdor Liberman said Friday he would compromise on military conscription to help form a government without Benjamin Netanyahu, retreating from a key campaign demand during coalition talks. Liberman set three red lines: ending Netanyahu's rule, avoiding another election, and rejecting a government dependent on abstentions by Arab parties. He said all other issues, including the draft law, were open to negotiation, easing a potential obstacle to cooperation with ultra-Orthodox parties. The October 27 election left Netanyahu's bloc with 53 seats, the opposition with 48, and Arab parties with 19. Liberman called for a 61-seat coalition without Arab parties and denied discussing a rotation agreement for the premiership.