Liberman Rules Out Coalition With Arab Parties, Complicating Change Bloc’s Path to Majority
By The Media Line Staff
Yisrael Beitenu Chairman Avigdor Liberman ruled out joining a government with Arab parties Saturday, creating another obstacle for the Change bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot as it seeks a governing majority after neither bloc secured 61 Knesset seats in last Tuesday’s election.
“We will not sit with supporters of terrorism!” Liberman wrote in a scathing Facebook post.
Neither the Change bloc nor the Netanyahu bloc emerged from the vote with the 61 seats needed for an outright majority. Some members of the Change bloc have expressed willingness to include Arab parties in a government, but Liberman has maintained that Yisrael Beitenu will participate only in a coalition made up exclusively of Zionist parties.
Explaining his refusal, Liberman cited Ofer Cassif’s support for proceedings brought by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague following October 7.
“After October 7, Ofer Cassif supported the proceedings initiated by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which alleged that Israel was committing genocide, and claimed that ‘the Israeli army is carrying out acts of terrorism.’”
Liberman also referred to comments by Ra’am MK Yasser Hujirat.
He added, “Weeks before the elections, Ra’am MK Yasser Hujirat claimed that Hamas is not a terrorist organization but a charitable organization.”
Liberman then cited events at the Joint List’s election-night headquarters.
“On election night, at the Joint List headquarters, Osama Saadi dedicated the achievement ‘to our people in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem,’ and they sang the song ‘Biladi Biladi,’ the Palestinian national anthem,” Liberman continued.
“Anyone who wants to rely on supporters of terrorism is welcome to do so. Yisrael Beitenu will not be there.”
His position makes it less likely that the anti-Netanyahu bloc will be able to assemble a government because of the willingness among some in the Change bloc to include Arab parties and Yisrael Beitenu’s refusal to join such a coalition.
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