Lieberman Weighs Coalition with Ultra-Orthodox Parties

Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has called for the swift formation of a government excluding the United Arab List (Ra'am) and the Joint List, citing the current political landscape as providing sufficient maneuvering room. This statement, following remarks made at a press briefing, revives the question of his willingness to partner with ultra-Orthodox parties, a possibility he had previously dismissed.

Lieberman stated that "we must prevent further elections. In the current political situation, there is enough room for maneuver, and with proper navigation, a functional and stable government can be quickly established without Ra'am and the Joint List," without elaborating on the specifics. This call comes as opposition parties in the "change bloc" hold 48 mandates, compared to 53 for the coalition bloc.

In a briefing the previous day, Lieberman left open the possibility of a partnership with the ultra-Orthodox parties, not ruling it out entirely, though he did not clarify how he would bridge the conditions he set for government formation. Just last week, after the election results became clear, Lieberman had explicitly stated, "As you know, my word is my word, and everything I said before the elections is still valid after them. We will not sit with Bibi or with Tibi, not with Gafni, not with Der'i. Not with Yasser Khujirat or other supporters of terror, directly or indirectly." At that time, he declared that the only viable coalition would consist solely of "Zionist parties, including Likud without Bibi," and demanded that the government's first act be establishing a state inquiry commission, with the first law passed being a "conscription law for all."

While the possibility of partnering with the ultra-Orthodox remained open in his recent briefing, Lieberman firmly rejected the idea of forming a minority government, stating, "I was clear on the issue of a minority government. We made it clear, I wrote and was interviewed, this will not happen. A minority government is not an option. We will not be part of it nor will we enable any minority government." He further clarified he would oppose such a government with a vote, not just abstention.

Lieberman also reiterated his rejection of sitting with Benjamin Netanyahu, stating, "I assume there will be great pressure to form a unity government, from Trump, perhaps from Herzog, it will not affect me." He added, "Unity with Netanyahu is not an option. I said the world would turn upside down before I would sit with Netanyahu, even if he offered me a rotation and I was first. It will not happen, he must go home." He also questioned Netanyahu's physical fitness and stated, "We do not want to sit with those who were in the coalition and bear responsibility for the massacre committed by Hamas on Simchat Torah 5784."

Adding context to the potential shift regarding ultra-Orthodox parties is a past offensive remark by Lieberman from 2021. When asked on a television program if he would cooperate with the ultra-Orthodox after Netanyahu ceased to be prime minister, he responded, "There is no such thing. The ultra-Orthodox together with Bibi, on one wheelbarrow to a good dump."

Currently, Lieberman expresses a desire to prevent new elections but has not presented a clear government composition. Whether this signals a change in his stance towards the ultra-Orthodox parties remains unconfirmed, although reports suggest he is making efforts to connect with them. The future of a potential alliance between Der'i and Lieberman remains to be seen.