Avigdor Lieberman Opens Talks With Ultra-Orthodox Parties
Avigdor Lieberman expressed willingness to negotiate with ultra-Orthodox parties to form a government led by Gadi Eisenkot and end Benjamin Netanyahu's tenure.
Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman announced his willingness to negotiate with ultra-Orthodox parties to form a government led by Gadi Eisenkot. Lieberman stated that these compromises are necessary to end the tenure of Benjamin Netanyahu and avoid another round of elections.
This position marks a shift from Lieberman's previous staunch opposition to forming a coalition with the Shas and United Torah Judaism parties. While he remains committed to the principle of universal military conscription, he expressed openness to discussing implementation based on his 2018 draft legislation, noting that the October 7 attacks necessitate revisions to previous proposals. He explicitly rejected forming a coalition dependent on the Ra’am and Joint List Arab parties, citing national security concerns.
Lieberman defended his flexibility, asserting that a willingness to compromise does not mean abandoning his core values or principles. He dismissed claims that his actions are driven by a personal ambition to become prime minister, describing the role as an option rather than an obsession. He further criticized journalists and political opponents for misrepresenting his intentions and attributing malicious motives to his actions, claiming some of the criticism has carried racist undertones.
