Yisrael Beiteinu Party Rules Out Arab, Haredi Coalitions
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
Rafi Ben Shitrit, representing Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party, declared they will not form a government with Arab or Haredi parties. The party is reportedly strategizing to position Lieberman as prime minister, bypassing Gadi Eisenkot. A plan also involves forming a right-wing bloc with Naftali Bennett and potentially Bezalel Smotrich if Benjamin Netanyahu falls short of a majority. Lieberman aims to form a coalition without Arab factions to satisfy his voters.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Yisrael Beiteinu will not form a government with Arab or anti-Zionist parties, stated Rafi Ben Shitrit.
- The party also refuses to cooperate with Haredi parties due to draft evasion and curriculum issues.
- Avigdor Lieberman's campaign is reportedly planning to secure the prime minister post after elections.
- A strategy includes forming a right-wing bloc with Naftali Bennett and Ofer Winter.
- The plan aims to attract Bezalel Smotrich and Likud members to form a coalition without Arab parties.
Rafi Ben Shitrit, a candidate for the Yisrael Beiteinu party led by Avigdor Lieberman, stated on Sunday that the party will not form a government with Arab parties, including Ra'am, or any "anti-Zionist or non-Zionist" lists, warning of a "Hungarian model" scenario. He reiterated the party's long-standing position against cooperating with Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties as long as they encourage draft evasion and do not teach core curriculum subjects, emphasizing Yisrael Beiteinu's identity as a "right, right, right, national, liberal party."
According to Channel 14 reports from last week, Lieberman's campaign is developing a political strategy aiming to secure the position of prime minister immediately after the elections. This move is intended to bypass Gadi Eisenkot and place Lieberman first in the rotation for leadership. In private discussions, Lieberman has argued that he possesses more relevant experience than other opposition candidates, citing his past roles as Defense, Foreign Affairs, and Finance Minister, while asserting that Eisenkot lacks managerial and political experience.
The strategy also reportedly includes an attempt to form a new right-wing bloc with Naftali Bennett and Ofer Winter if Benjamin Netanyahu fails to secure 61 seats. Bennett is reportedly aware of this plan, while Winter is believed to be uninformed. The plan involves appealing to Knesset members from the "back benches" of Likud to achieve a coalition majority and also seeks to bring Bezalel Smotrich into the government under Lieberman's leadership, believing Smotrich would join a right-wing government led by Lieberman, which he sees as more appealing to right-wing voters than a government led by Eisenkot or Bennett.
By positioning himself as prime minister, Lieberman aims to form a coalition without relying on Arab factions or the Democratic party, thereby fulfilling commitments to his voters. Previously, Lieberman had warned of a "dangerous scenario" that must be prevented.
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