Lieberman Rules Out Coalition With Netanyahu, Arab Parties

Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has stated that his party will not join a coalition led by Benjamin Netanyahu, nor will they sit with "supporters of terror." Lieberman made these remarks on Thursday, October 29, during a meeting with party branch leaders, emphasizing that his pre-election stance remains unchanged. He specifically mentioned not sitting with "Bibi, Tibi, Goldknopf, or Deri," and also excluded cooperation with Arab parties, which would be necessary for a minority government led by Gadi Eisenkot. Lieberman suggested waiting for the political dust to settle before making decisions.

In a subsequent Facebook post, Lieberman reiterated his position, stating that Yisrael Beiteinu would only join a coalition composed exclusively of "Zionist parties, including Likud without Bibi." He outlined his party's priorities for the next government, which include establishing a state commission to investigate the October 7 tragedy and enacting a law for universal conscription. Lieberman declared that any coalition not prioritizing these two issues is irrelevant to his party.

Following the election, Yisrael Beiteinu secured seven seats. Meanwhile, leaders of the "change bloc" parties are holding initial post-election meetings. Yair Golan, chairman of the Democratic Party, met with Gadi Eisenkot to discuss potential partnerships, including with Arab parties. Golan is also scheduled to meet with Yair Lapid. Reports indicate that the "change bloc" parties aim to make their first joint move by seeking the replacement of the Knesset Speaker.

Prior to the election results, Lieberman had criticized Netanyahu's conduct on election day, accusing him of acting like the head of a criminal organization and engaging in tactics like blocking WhatsApp accounts and sending SMS messages. Lieberman also called for an internal "rebellion" within Likud to oust Netanyahu, arguing that this would be key to preserving the "national camp."