Lieberman Accuses Eisenkot of Planning Coalition with Netanyahu
Translated & summarized from Zman Yisrael by baba
Avigdor Lieberman accused Gadi Eisenkot of planning to form a government with Benjamin Netanyahu after the elections, criticizing his campaign strategy and coalition intentions. Lieberman stated his party, Yisrael Beiteinu, would not join a government reliant on Arab parties and rejected minority government scenarios. Separately, Palestinian reports detailed settler attacks on Palestinians during the olive harvest near Ramallah, resulting in injuries and property damage. The police are also conducting searches near Kafr Qara for a suspected armed individual. In legal news, the Supreme Court is reviewing a petition to ban real-time voter reporting by poll workers to parties.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Avigdor Lieberman accused Gadi Eisenkot of planning to form a government with Benjamin Netanyahu after the elections.
- Lieberman stated Yisrael Beiteinu will not join a government that relies on Arab parties.
- Palestinian reports indicate settlers attacked Palestinians during the olive harvest near Ramallah, causing injuries.
- The police are conducting searches near Kafr Qara for a suspected armed individual.
- The Supreme Court is reviewing a petition to ban real-time voter reporting by poll workers to parties.
Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, launched a sharp attack on Gadi Eisenkot, accusing him of preparing to form a government with Benjamin Netanyahu after the upcoming elections. Lieberman asserted that Eisenkot's "Big Party" campaign is designed to shift votes among opposition parties rather than expand their bloc. He claimed Eisenkot is focused on becoming larger than the Likud party to negotiate from a position of strength for a coalition with Netanyahu, potentially including Haredi parties like United Torah Judaism and Shas. Lieberman also criticized Eisenkot's conscription plan and stated that Yisrael Beiteinu would not join a government relying on Arab parties.
Lieberman further suggested that Eisenkot might consider a minority government as leverage for a rotation in the prime minister's seat, a scenario Yisrael Beiteinu rejects. He emphasized his party's commitment to a government composed solely of Zionist parties, excluding Arab and Haredi factions, though he indicated the Likud party without Netanyahu could be a significant partner. Lieberman's remarks come amid ongoing political maneuvering and discussions about post-election coalition possibilities.
In separate incidents, Palestinian media reported that settlers attacked Palestinians in several locations near Ramallah during the olive harvest. A 70-year-old Palestinian was injured in an attack near Bir Zeit, and a Palestinian Civil Defense worker was assaulted while attempting to extinguish a vehicle set ablaze by settlers near Turmus Ayya. The organization reported that one of the vehicles set on fire belonged to them. Reports also mentioned injuries to a 63-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man from beatings near the village of Abu Falah, with gunfire also reported. The IDF had not yet responded to these incidents.
Meanwhile, the police announced extensive searches in the area of Kafr Qara following a report of an armed suspect in an olive grove. The searches involve air support and a call for public vigilance. Additionally, a Supreme Court Justice ordered the Central Elections Committee, the Attorney General, and the Likud party to respond by Monday to a petition from the Israeli Democracy Watch. The petition seeks to prohibit poll workers from reporting the number of voters to their parties in real-time, arguing it violates election principles and fairness.
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