Liberman Unveils Israel Beiteinu List, Rules Out Alliance with Netanyahu

The Israel Beiteinu party held an election rally in Tel Aviv on Sunday, where party chairman Avigdor Liberman presented the party's slate for the upcoming Knesset elections. Several party members spoke, referring to Liberman as the "next Prime Minister." Liberman himself stated, "We will not accept any nod towards Netanyahu."

The top 20 candidates on the Israel Beiteinu list were revealed, with Rafi Ben Shitrit surprisingly placed second, followed by Talia Lanker in third. Other notable placements include Oded Forer in fourth and Yulia Malinowski in fifth. Several new candidates have joined the party, including former Likud MK Dan Illouz, Michal Sela Forum founder Lili Ben Ami, and Rafi Ben Shitrit, who lost his son on October 7th and is a founder of the "October Council." Ben Shitrit is also a former mayor of Beit She'an and has been advocating for a state inquiry into the October 7th massacre.

Liberman emphasized the party's consistent right-wing, Zionist, and liberal ideology, rooted in the teachings of Herzl and Jabotinsky. He criticized the current government's handling of security, stating that Israel's situation is worse than before the Yom Kippur War and even worse than before the October 7th massacre. He attributed the massacre to a flawed policy of containment and avoidance of difficult decisions.

Addressing internal societal divisions, Liberman called for a "state and Zionist government" that prioritizes the nation's welfare over sectoral, party, or personal interests. He also commented on his relationship with Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, expressing respect but noting significant differences in approach. Liberman stressed the importance of maximizing mandates for their bloc rather than focusing solely on being the largest party within it.

Furthermore, Liberman firmly rejected any possibility of supporting Netanyahu or the Haredi parties, particularly regarding exemptions from military service for yeshiva students. He vowed that Israel Beiteinu would not allow such exemptions, viewing them as a tactic by the Haredi establishment to delay decisions. He also promised to prevent internal conflicts, conspiracies, or "dirty tricks" within the bloc, asserting that Israel Beiteinu operates with integrity and clarity.