Lieberman Rejects Unity Government, Sets Conditions for Coalition
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Avigdor Lieberman stated his party will only form a coalition with Zionist parties and will not join any government with Benjamin Netanyahu. Lieberman proposed that Likud members, excluding Netanyahu, could join a coalition to form a majority. He rejected the possibility of a minority government, preferring to build a broader coalition. This position contrasts with other opposition figures like Gadi Eisenkot and Dan Meridor, highlighting divisions within the anti-Netanyahu bloc regarding coalition formation strategies.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Avigdor Lieberman will not sit in any government with Benjamin Netanyahu, stating "Let the world turn upside down."
- Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party will only form coalitions with Zionist parties, excluding religious and Arab factions.
- Lieberman suggested Likud members, without Netanyahu, could join a coalition to form a majority.
- Lieberman rejected the idea of a minority government, preferring to build a broader coalition.
- Opposition figures Gadi Eisenkot and Dan Meridor have different approaches to coalition formation.
- The challenge of securing a Knesset majority remains a key issue for the opposition bloc.
Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has stated his party will only form a coalition with Zionist parties, explicitly excluding Ra'am, the Joint List, Shas, and United Torah Judaism. He also declared that his party would not sit in any government with Benjamin Netanyahu, stating, "Let the world turn upside down, we will not sit in any situation." Lieberman suggested that members of the Likud party, without Netanyahu, could be significant partners and help form a majority.
Lieberman expressed confidence that a government could be formed and govern even with fewer than 61 Knesset members, though he committed to securing over 61 seats. He rejected the idea of a minority government, even as a temporary solution, preferring to build a majority with additional partners from within the existing political system. This stance differentiates him from figures like Dan Meridor and Gadi Eisenkot.
Eisenkot has outlined prerequisites for parties joining his potential government, including mandatory service and recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization. Parties unwilling to accept these conditions would not be included. The article notes that the question of how to achieve a Knesset majority remains a central issue for the opposition bloc, especially if election results leave them with 57-59 seats.
The differing approaches of Lieberman, Meridor, and Eisenkot highlight internal divisions within the bloc opposing Netanyahu. The debate centers on whether a government can be formed without a clear 61-seat majority or if broader alliances, potentially including Likud members without Netanyahu, are necessary. While a mathematical combination of opposition and Arab parties could reach approximately 65.5 seats, this does not guarantee political feasibility for a joint government.
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