Liberman Declares Ambition for Prime Minister, Cites 'Hungarian Scenario' for Election Win

Avigdor Liberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, expressed confidence in his bloc forming the next government, despite polls indicating neither side is close to the 61-seat majority needed in the Knesset. Liberman stated his primary goal is to maximize mandates for his bloc, with a secondary objective of becoming prime minister. He invoked the "Hungarian scenario" of a surprising, decisive victory, drawing parallels to past elections where his predictions did not materialize.

Liberman criticized past "intra-bloc cannibalism" in the "change bloc," citing Yair Lapid's 2022 election results as an example of failing to unite parties. He argued that discussions about who will be prime minister or potential coalitions with Arab parties play into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hands, distracting from accountability for the October 7th failures and other national issues like the economy and governance.

He urged Benny Gantz to withdraw from the race, asserting that voting for Gantz effectively means voting for Netanyahu, citing past negotiations between them. Liberman also dismissed the idea of a "Bibi-less" government being impossible without a clear prime ministerial candidate from the "change bloc" upfront, emphasizing bloc unity and maximizing mandates as the priority.

Liberman reiterated his long-standing opposition to Netanyahu, holding him responsible for the events leading to October 7th and accusing him of fostering Hamas. He claimed Netanyahu ignored warnings, including one he personally delivered in 2016, and failed to act decisively. Liberman also addressed the international standing of Israel, criticizing the actions of Jewish settlers in the West Bank and advocating for administrative detention for them, while warning of potential EU sanctions.

Regarding the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) draft issue, Liberman proposed strict sanctions for draft dodgers rather than mass arrests, including denial of benefits and employment. He maintained his stance against including Haredi parties like Shas and United Torah Judaism in a future coalition due to their "racist" and "theocratic" policies.