Avigdor Lieberman Rules Out Coalition With Mansour Abbas Ahead of Israeli Elections

Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, sharply criticized Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yisrael party, for opposing small factions' demands to lead the next Israeli government. In a radio interview on 103FM, Lieberman argued that such debates about leadership positions only benefit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by distracting from the main goal of replacing the current government and ending the coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties. Lieberman directly challenged Eisenkot, noting that he too is a candidate for prime minister and that focusing on who leads plays into Netanyahu's strategy.

Lieberman also condemned the Likud party, where he once served as CEO in the 1990s, accusing it of transforming into a "lite ultra-Orthodox party" and stating he has no intention of cooperating with it. Addressing rumors about the potential inclusion of the Ra'am party, led by Mansour Abbas, in a future coalition, Lieberman firmly declared that following the October mourning events, Ra'am cannot be part of any government, either as a full member or external supporter.

This stance effectively undermines the left-wing's hopes of forming a government after the upcoming elections, as all polls indicate that without Ra'am's support, the left cannot reach the 61-seat majority needed in the Knesset. Lieberman's comments underscore his party's pivotal role in shaping Israel's next government and his refusal to collaborate with both the ultra-Orthodox and Islamist parties.