Yisrael Beiteinu Presents Knesset List, Rules Out Alliance With Netanyahu

The Yisrael Beiteinu party unveiled its electoral slate for the upcoming 26th Knesset elections at an event in Tel Aviv on September 6th, attended by several hundred supporters. The party's campaign will run under the slogan "Liberman is strong in security and strong in the economy." Party leader Avigdor Liberman was presented as a potential future prime minister, and he stated the party's aim is to win the election.

Liberman reiterated his disagreements with Gabi Eisenkot, particularly concerning the conscription of ultra-Orthodox men into the military, stating, "We reject any quotas and any exemptions." He also emphasized that while he has differences with Eisenkot on various issues, there will be "no Turks and no cannibalism within the bloc," seemingly referring to internal coalition dynamics.

The party leader outlined six core principles of their platform. He announced that the first action his government would take is to establish a state commission of inquiry into the failures of October 7th. Liberman expressed a desire for the Likud party to join his coalition, but explicitly stated, "There will be no cooperation with Netanyahu."

The presented list, which was later approved, features Avigdor Liberman as the first candidate. Notably, only four of the top 15 candidates are Russian-speaking. Attendees polled by NEWSru.co.il estimated the party would win between 8 and 13 seats in the election.