Netanyahu Seeks to Lure Rivals Lieberman, Bennett into Government
Translated & summarized from Arab48 by baba
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly invited rival party leaders Avigdor Lieberman and Naftali Bennett to join a government he would form, bypassing his current coalition partners. Netanyahu aims to secure a mandate to form a government and prevent opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot from taking unilateral steps. Lieberman and Bennett are expected to refuse, but public pressure might influence them, while President Herzog plans to begin consultations after official results are announced next week.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited rivals Avigdor Lieberman and Naftali Bennett to join his government.
- Netanyahu bypassed his current coalition partners after exit polls showed Likud as the largest party.
- The move aims to secure Netanyahu's mandate and prevent opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot from taking unilateral actions.
- Lieberman and Bennett are expected to refuse, but public pressure could sway them.
- President Yitzhak Herzog will begin coalition consultations after receiving official election results next week.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, contrary to past election cycles, did not immediately contact his coalition partners after exit polls indicated his Likud party was the largest following Tuesday's vote. Instead, Netanyahu publicly appealed to rival party leaders Avigdor Lieberman and Naftali Bennett to join a government he would form. This approach, according to the website Walla!, may be intended to maintain his maneuvering room and secure a mandate from President Yitzhak Herzog to form a government, thereby preventing the opposing bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot from taking unilateral actions.
Sources within Likud suggested a partnership with Lieberman and Bennett, described as right-wing figures and former Netanyahu allies, should be pursued. While Lieberman and Bennett are expected to refuse joining Netanyahu's government, public and right-wing pressure could influence them. Emissaries from Netanyahu may attempt to gauge the possibility of forming a government distinct from the outgoing one.
Simultaneously, Netanyahu is anticipated to launch a public campaign against Eisenkot's bloc and its plan to change the Knesset speaker, reportedly with support from Arab parties. Eisenkot's camp, however, is preparing for Netanyahu to employ aggressive tactics against any potential collaborators and is considering how to dissuade Lieberman and Bennett from voting on a new Knesset speaker.
President Herzog stated on Wednesday that "everything must be done to avoid returning to another election." He expects those he consults to approach the process with an open mind and plans to begin coalition consultations after receiving official results next week.
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