Lieberman Signals Flexibility on Draft Law to Form Israeli Government
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, is willing to compromise on the military draft law to help form a new Israeli government, seeking alternative models acceptable to the Supreme Court. He reiterated his opposition to Benjamin Netanyahu and his parties. Other opposition figures, including Yair Golan, Gadi Eisenkot, and Naftali Bennett, are also pushing for swift coalition formation, with Golan advocating for the inclusion of Arab parties. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged a candidate to refuse a Knesset position if reliant on Arab votes.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Avigdor Lieberman is open to compromising on the military draft law to aid new government formation.
- Lieberman refuses to cooperate with Benjamin Netanyahu and exclude Shas and United Torah Judaism.
- Yisrael Beiteinu secured only 48 seats, necessitating revised coalition-building strategies.
- Lieberman plans to focus on national security if appointed to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
- Yair Golan urged opposition parties to include Arab parties to secure a parliamentary majority.
- Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich opposed a candidate taking Knesset Speaker role with Arab party support.
Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has indicated a willingness to compromise on the contentious draft law for military conscription to facilitate the formation of a new Israeli government. Initially advocating for mandatory conscription for all, Lieberman now suggests exploring alternative models that could gain broader support and pass Supreme Court scrutiny. He stated this during a faction meeting in the Knesset, as reported by Maariv.
Lieberman acknowledged that his party's post-election strategy had to be revised after securing only 48 seats, necessitating new approaches to coalition building. While emphasizing flexibility in negotiations, he reiterated his refusal to cooperate with Benjamin Netanyahu and his insistence on forming a government excluding the Shas and United Torah Judaism parties. He stressed that any new draft law must be legally sound and meet Supreme Court requirements, aiming to resolve the issue without excessive costs or new elections.
Addressing rumors of intermediaries in talks with ultra-Orthodox parties, Lieberman dismissed them as fabrications, clarifying that Gadi Eisenkot, whom Yisrael Beiteinu recommended for prime minister without preconditions, is leading coalition negotiations. Lieberman also stated he is not seeking a rotation in the prime minister's role and will not obstruct agreements within the opposition bloc, even if they don't fully align with his party's interests. He also denied requesting the chairmanship of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, learning of the possibility only recently.
Should he be appointed to the committee, Lieberman intends to focus on national security, including inviting the head of the Shin Bet and the police commissioner to discuss foreign interference in Israeli elections, and questioning the Chief of Staff about potential Iranian chemical weapons use. He reiterated that forming a government with a 61-seat majority remains the top priority, warning that a minority government could allow Netanyahu to return to power for another four years.
Meanwhile, Yair Golan, chairman of the Democratic Party, urged the opposition to expedite coalition formation and include Arab parties to secure a parliamentary majority. He criticized Netanyahu's government for worsening security, economic, and institutional conditions. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called on Matan Kahane to refuse the Knesset Speaker position if his election depends on Arab party votes. Gadi Eisenkot and Naftali Bennett also confirmed their commitment to forming a new government swiftly.
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