Lieberman Predicts Coalition Majority, Rules Out Sitting With Netanyahu
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman predicts the "change bloc" will win 61 seats in the upcoming elections, significantly downplaying current Likud poll numbers. He firmly stated he will never sit with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even after the elections, and called for Netanyahu to resign. Lieberman also rejected a unity government, favoring a decisive national government, and suggested the Likud party could be a partner without Netanyahu.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Avigdor Lieberman predicts the "change bloc" will win 61 seats, securing a majority.
- Lieberman stated he will never sit in a government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- He believes the Likud party will fall below 20 mandates, losing a third of its strength.
- Lieberman rejected the idea of a unity government, calling it a "government of paralysis."
- He suggested the Likud party could be a partner after Netanyahu's departure.
- Lieberman called for a state commission of inquiry into events, rejecting pardons.
Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has expressed strong confidence in a change of government, predicting that the "change bloc" will secure 61 seats in the upcoming elections. Speaking on Radio 103FM, Lieberman dismissed current poll numbers, stating he has a better feel for the public sentiment on the ground. He specifically noted that the Likud party, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is projected to fall below 20 mandates, a significant drop from their previous 32 seats, indicating a loss of a third of their strength.
Lieberman emphasized the need for a unified strategy among opposition parties to achieve a majority, stressing that national issues are paramount and should supersede internal power struggles. He unequivocally ruled out any possibility of joining a government led by Netanyahu, stating, "The world can turn upside down and I will not sit with Bibi." Lieberman went further, asserting that Netanyahu should not even serve as a minister and must "go home and answer for what happened since October 7th."
While rejecting any coalition with Netanyahu, Lieberman did not rule out the Likud party itself as a potential partner after Netanyahu's departure. He indicated that he has spoken with senior Likud members about finding a way to remove Netanyahu from within the party. Lieberman also rejected the idea of a unity government, calling it a "government of paralysis" and advocating for a "Zionist and national government" capable of making dramatic moves. He also called for a state commission of inquiry to examine events, stating there is no place for pardons.
