Lieberman Rules Out Alliances, Prefers to Wait After Election Results
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman will not join Benjamin Netanyahu or form a government backed by Arab parties following the inconclusive election results. He has also cut contact with Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot. Lieberman's campaign underperformed, failing to dismantle the Likud party, which became the largest in the Knesset. He is choosing to wait due to potential political deadlock from security escalations.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Avigdor Lieberman refuses to join Benjamin Netanyahu or form a government with Arab party support.
- Lieberman has cut contact with Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot after the elections.
- The Likud party emerged as the largest in the Knesset, contrary to Lieberman's campaign goals.
- Lieberman believes a security escalation could create a political deadlock, leading him to wait.
- Lieberman is unwilling to be the first to join Netanyahu's bloc.
Following the inconclusive election results, Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman has established two red lines for future political maneuvering. Lieberman stated he will not join Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he previously accused of treason, nor will he form a government supported by Arab parties. In the aftermath of the vote, Lieberman has ceased contact with Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot, reportedly not answering calls from partners within his bloc.
Lieberman's campaign ended with his party significantly underperforming its initial positioning. He began with a platform of being an alternative to the Prime Minister, but recent days saw discussions about whether he needed "saving" as Bennett gained votes at his expense. His strategy to dismantle the Likud party also failed, with the Likud emerging as the largest party in the Knesset.
Lieberman is unwilling to be the one to defect to Netanyahu's bloc and prefers Eisenkot to make such a move independently. Furthermore, despite political speculation, Lieberman sees no possibility of replacing the current Knesset Speaker. Sources close to Lieberman believe a security escalation could lead to a political deadlock, prompting his decision to wait and observe the unfolding situation.
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