Lieberman Urges Opposition Compromise for Coalition Without Netanyahu

Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has called on leaders of the "change bloc" parties to reconsider their post-election strategy and make difficult compromises to form a government without Benjamin Netanyahu. Lieberman firmly rejected the possibility of a minority government reliant on the abstention of Arab parties, warning it would be a strategic error. He believes the "change bloc" lost 7-8 Knesset seats in the final ten days of the campaign, with 3-4 of those previously belonging to Yisrael Beiteinu, attributing the shift to campaigning for a "big party" and discussions of a minority government, which he claims benefited the Likud party. Lieberman recalled that the previous "change government" lasted just over a year before Netanyahu returned to power with a 64-seat coalition, predicting a new minority government would last even less time, leading to Netanyahu's return with 70 seats for four years. He stated, "From there, the path to the destruction of the Third Temple will be short." Lieberman outlined three core conditions: ending Netanyahu's era, preventing new elections, and rejecting a government dependent on the abstention of Hadash-Ta'al and Ra'am lawmakers, noting Yisrael Beiteinu would vote against such a government. However, he expressed readiness for compromises on other issues, including the ultra-Orthodox conscription law, emphasizing that national interests must supersede other considerations. Lieberman denied reports of discussions about a rotation in the prime minister's post, deeming the rotation mechanism harmful to governance. As a solution to the political deadlock, he proposed forming a 61-seat coalition without Hadash-Ta'al and Ra'am, suggesting that three to four Likud members might later join. "National responsibility requires us to make difficult decisions and be ready for painful compromises," Lieberman stated, urging his partners to think several steps ahead.