Lieberman Warns Against Minority Government, Cites Risk of Netanyahu's Return

Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has reiterated his strong opposition to the formation of a minority government supported by Arab parties following the upcoming elections. In a post on social media platform X, Lieberman cautioned his bloc's partners that such a move could paradoxically lead to a significant strengthening of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, potentially securing him 70 mandates in subsequent elections.

Lieberman described the discourse surrounding a minority government as "dangerous," arguing that while it might seem appealing in the short term, it could ultimately lead to a worse situation. He cited both principled and practical objections. On principle, he stated that it is impossible to rely on members of Knesset from Ra'am and the Joint List, especially after the October 7th attacks, given their alleged characterization of Hamas as a charity and their accusations against IDF soldiers of genocide and crimes against humanity.

Practically, Lieberman asserted that a minority government is inherently unstable and susceptible to blackmail by individual Knesset members, making its long-term survival unlikely. He predicted that this instability would inevitably trigger new elections, after which Netanyahu and his allies could return with a stronger mandate of 70 seats for a full four-year term. Therefore, he concluded, a short-term minority government would be a long-term disaster for Israel.

Shortly after his initial post, Lieberman clarified that his criticism was not directed at his opposition bloc partners but specifically at Benjamin Netanyahu. He emphasized that a minority government would likely be short-lived, ultimately paving the way for another four-year term for Netanyahu, Goldknopf, and Deri, during which they would act with impunity.

Lieberman's remarks come amid internal disagreements within the opposition regarding government formation strategies. He has recently clashed with Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the National Unity party, over Eisenkot's "Big Party" campaign, which Lieberman claims diverts votes within the opposition rather than attracting them from the right-wing bloc. Lieberman urged his partners to focus on increasing voter turnout and supporting the four parties within the "change bloc," warning against votes for parties that might not pass the electoral threshold. He believes a turnout of 76% or higher would ensure the opposition's victory and the establishment of a stable, Zionist, and liberal government.