Lieberman Ends Speculation on Coalition, Warns of Political Pitfalls
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
Avigdor Lieberman, head of Yisrael Beiteinu, has rejected rumors of forming a coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties and warned against political errors. He cited past predictions that came true, including the loss of seats by the "change bloc" before recent elections. Lieberman opposes a minority government reliant on abstentions and advocates for a stable coalition of 61 seats without the United List or Ra'am. He also dismissed the idea of a prime ministerial rotation, favoring a single leader for a full term.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Avigdor Lieberman rejected rumors of forming a coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties.
- Lieberman warned that political missteps could lead to Netanyahu's return with 70 seats.
- He opposes a minority government reliant on abstentions from the United List and Ra'am.
- Lieberman cited past predictions about security and election outcomes that proved accurate.
- He advocates for a 61-seat coalition without the United List or Ra'am.
- Lieberman dismissed the concept of a prime ministerial rotation as detrimental to governance.
Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has publicly clarified his stance on forming a future coalition government, addressing rumors that he might align with ultra-Orthodox parties. Lieberman outlined his non-negotiable conditions for coalition building and cautioned against political missteps, emphasizing the need for strategic foresight.
In a statement released on November 6, Lieberman stressed the importance of learning from past mistakes and considering future consequences, likening political decision-making to chess. He cited his December 21, 2016, warning about a potential incursion by "Nukhba" militants and the seizure of border communities around Gaza, which he claims was initially dismissed but later materialized. He also recalled advising the "change bloc" to avoid campaigning on becoming the largest party or forming a minority government, asserting that this strategy cost them seven to eight Knesset seats, with three to four returning to Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud, enabling it to become the largest party.
Lieberman reiterated his opposition to a minority government dependent on the abstention of the United List and Ra'am parties, stating Yisrael Beiteinu would vote against it. He also reaffirmed his three core principles for coalition formation: ending the Netanyahu era, preventing new elections, and avoiding a government reliant on abstentions. While acknowledging that concessions, particularly on the military draft law, are difficult, he argued that national interests must supersede specific party demands.
He refuted numerous reports about his intentions and potential agreements, asserting his direct communication style leaves no room for interpretation. Lieberman also dismissed any possibility of a prime ministerial rotation, calling the mechanism detrimental to governance and citing the past practice under Yitzhak Shamir and Shimon Peres as an example of its flaws. He advocated for the leader tasked with forming a government to serve a full term.
Lieberman concluded by advocating for the formation of a 61-seat coalition without the United List or Ra'am, suggesting that such a government could later attract three to four Likud members. He believes this approach is the sole strategy that serves Israel's and the Jewish people's interests, offering a path out of the political deadlock and towards a stable four-year government.
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