Lieberman Meets Likud Voters, Rejects Netanyahu as PM
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, met with Likud voters who rejected Gadi Eisenkot as prime minister. Lieberman's party maintains its refusal to join a government with Benjamin Netanyahu, ultra-Orthodox, or Arab parties. The party's conditions for coalition are a state inquiry commission and a universal draft law. Lieberman also suggested that the Likud party could be a partner if Netanyahu is not its leader.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Avigdor Lieberman's party rejects forming a government with Benjamin Netanyahu.
- Lieberman's party demands a state inquiry commission and universal draft law for coalition.
- Lieberman met Likud voters who rejected Gadi Eisenkot as prime minister.
- Yisrael Beiteinu criticizes Eisenkot's campaign for harming the 'change bloc'.
- Lieberman suggests Likud could be a coalition partner without Netanyahu.
Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, met with Likud voters who expressed a clear rejection of Gadi Eisenkot as a potential prime minister. Yisrael Beiteinu sources criticized Eisenkot's "highly egoistic campaign" for harming the "change bloc" of parties opposing Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite the election results, Lieberman's party maintains its firm stance against forming a government with Netanyahu, ultra-Orthodox parties, or Arab parties.
Lieberman stated that Yisrael Beiteinu will not join a government with Netanyahu, even if offered the premiership in a rotation. "There is zero chance that Ivvy will accept the offer," said a source from the party, referring to Lieberman. The party insists that its pre-election commitments remain unchanged, emphasizing a coalition composed solely of "Zionist parties," which could include the Likud party if Netanyahu is not its leader.
Lieberman reiterated his positions in a post on X, thanking his voters and activists and confirming his refusal to sit with Netanyahu, Tibi, Goldknopf, Der'i, Yasser Hujairat, or other "supporters of terror," directly or indirectly. He proposed a coalition of Zionist parties, including Likud without Netanyahu, as the only viable option.
Two key conditions were set by Lieberman for any future coalition: the establishment of a state commission of inquiry and a universal draft law. He stressed that these two issues must be the first and central points for any government they would join.
Lieberman also reflected on past electoral strategies, recalling his earlier warning against party mergers, citing the example of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid's failed union. He noted that in the previous election, Yair Lapid ran alone and achieved significant success for Yesh Atid, securing 24 mandates, after which they sat in opposition.
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