Lieberman Rules Out Netanyahu Alliance, Pledges Zionist-Only Government

With less than two weeks until Israel's legislative elections on October 27, Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has reiterated his firm refusal to join a government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu. Lieberman also rejected any form of minority government, even a temporary one, and intends to impose his conditions on opposition partners. "Our position is clear and unambiguous: we will form a coalition composed exclusively of Zionist parties," Lieberman stated, ruling out participation from the United Arab List, the Joint Arab List, and the ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism. However, the right-wing leader left the door open for an alliance with the Likud party, provided Netanyahu is no longer its leader. "Likud without Netanyahu can be an important partner. But with Netanyahu, no matter what, we will not sit in the same government under any circumstances," he said.

This stance complicates negotiations within the opposition, particularly for Gadi Eisenkot, who had previously raised the possibility of forming a minority government if anti-Netanyahu parties failed to secure an absolute majority in the Knesset. Lieberman's rejection extends to any coalition relying on external support from Arab parties. With current polls indicating neither major bloc will reach the 61 seats needed for a solo majority, Lieberman's demands could significantly impact the formation of the next government. His refusal to ally with Netanyahu, Arab parties, and religious blocs severely limits the options for reaching an agreement after the vote.