Avigdor Liberman and his Yisrael Beitenu party have been key players over the past year in Israel’s chaotic political arena, holding the swing votes that will determine which of the two major political blocs forms Israel’s next government. Liberman’s November 2018 resignation as defense minister led to early elections in April 2019, after which he surprised everyone by refusing to join the government of right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to form. His refusal, he explained, stemmed from his agenda that espouses separation of religion from the affairs of state and his persistent demand that ultra-Orthodox men perform mandatory military service like all other young Israelis.

Liberman stuck to his guns after the September 2019 elections as well, and escalated his campaign against the ultra-Orthodox over their rejection of his core demands. “Unfortunately, the ultra-Orthodox parties are also increasingly anti-Zionist,” he claimed in a fiery November 2019 speech.

The responses of ultra-Orthodox Knesset members to these accusations were equally harsh. “Liberman should leave politics. We do not recall such anti-Semitism in the Knesset," ultra-Orthodox lawmaker Moshe Gafni lashed out. The Yahadut HaTorah member went on, "In any other state, the man would have gone to jail. Does this corrupt man even know what we do? Who are you? A nothing.” Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, chair of the ultra-Orthodox Shas, warned that Liberman would pay for his actions.

A Feb. 3 exposé by Haaretz revealed Liberman’s heavy involvement in obtaining draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men in his capacity as defense minister. It paints the harsh clash and venomous public accusations between Liberman and the ultra-Orthodox in an absurd light and could undermine the credibility of the campaign Liberman is conducting ahead of the March 2 elections, Israel’s third in less than a year.