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Liberman Halts Talks With Opposition Bloc Leaders Amid Government Formation

Following inconclusive election results, Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman has established two red lines for future political maneuvering, refusing to join a government led by Benjamin Netanyahu or one dependent on the support of Arab parties. These conditions significantly limit the options for the change bloc as it struggles to assemble a coalition.

3 newsrooms · 2 languages · since 28 Oct, 20:53

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Liberman Halts Talks With Opposition Bloc Leaders Amid Government Formation — Illustration by baba

What happened

01Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman refuses to join a government led by Benjamin Netanyahu or one supported by Arab parties.
02Lieberman has cut off contact and is not responding to calls from Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot since the day after the election.
03Lieberman's campaign failed to weaken the Likud, which emerged as the largest party in the Knesset following the election.
04Naftali Bennett gained votes and political strength at the expense of Lieberman's campaign.
05Lieberman is skeptical about the feasibility of replacing Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana under the current political composition.
06Lieberman prefers that Gadi Eisenkot join Netanyahu's bloc independently rather than switching blocs himself.
07Associates of Lieberman believe a security escalation could further complicate the political landscape and lead to a deadlock.

Since the day after the election, Lieberman has cut off contact with potential bloc partners, including Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot, and is not responding to their calls. Lieberman's campaign, which aimed to weaken the Likud and position himself as an alternative to the Prime Minister, failed to achieve its goals. Instead, the Likud emerged as the largest party in the Knesset, while Bennett gained votes and political strength at Lieberman's expense.

Lieberman is currently opting to wait out the political stalemate rather than initiate new government talks. He is reportedly skeptical about the feasibility of replacing Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana under the current political composition. According to reports from Channel 12 News, Lieberman prefers that if anyone from the opposition bloc joins Netanyahu, it should be Eisenkot rather than himself. Sources close to Lieberman also express concern that a security escalation could further complicate the political landscape and lead to a deadlock.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated 01:07

Latest report: Israel National News. Read Israel National News’s original