Liberman Backs Eisenkot for PM, Rules Out Any Deal With Netanyahu
Yisrael Beytenu chief Avigdor Liberman says his seven-seat party will recommend Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government. He rules out sitting with Netanyahu, even in a rotation.
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Avigdor Liberman, the Yisrael Beytenu chairman, says his party will recommend Gadi Eisenkot to form the next Israeli government. He also rules out sitting with Benjamin Netanyahu, even in a rotation. Hebrew-language reports carried his remarks on Monday, Nov. 2.
The shift matters because Liberman had not committed to Eisenkot before. After a weekend meeting with Eisenkot, Kan reported that he declined to say whom he would back.
What Liberman Said
Hebrew posts quote his remarks, and i24NEWS and Channel 12 analyst Amit Segal reported them. The quotes below are Clash Report translations.
“The world will turn upside down before I sit with Netanyahu,” he says. That holds “even if he offers me to be first in a rotation.”
On a minority government, he says: “We made it clear, and I wrote several times, it will not happen.”
He adds: “We will recommend Gadi Eisenkot for the mandate, even though he ran the most egotistical campaign there is.” He says he will back Yair Lapid’s bid to become Knesset Speaker.
Segal’s post says Liberman ruled out Netanyahu and a minority government after meeting key leaders. Segal argues this leaves a unity government or new elections. That is his analysis, not Liberman’s statement.
Why Seven Seats Matter
Israel voted on Oct. 27. Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 seats, the Jewish opposition parties 48 and the Arab-led parties 19, the final results show. A government needs 61 of 120 seats.
| Group | Seats |
|---|---|
| Likud, Shas, UTJ, Otzma Yehudit, Religious Zionism | 53 |
| Yashar (Eisenkot) | 21 |
| B’Yachad (Bennett and Lapid) | 12 |
| The Democrats (Yair Golan) | 8 |
| Yisrael Beytenu (Liberman) | 7 |
| Arab-led Joint List and Ra’am | 19 |
N12 counts 33 recommendations for Eisenkot from Yashar and B’Yachad, it reported. The Democrats would make 41, and Yisrael Beytenu would bring the total to 48.
Arab-led parties are expected to recommend Eisenkot too, the Jerusalem Post reported. That would put him at 67. N12 counts 46 sure recommendations for Netanyahu, or 53 if United Torah Judaism joins.
The Speaker Fight
The bloc plans to replace Likud’s Amir Ohana as Speaker at the Nov. 10 swearing-in, the Jerusalem Post reported. The Speaker controls the agenda, so the post is a bargaining chip.
Liberman earlier demanded the job for his MK Oded Forer, Kan reported. Arab parties oppose Forer. Lapid and Bennett want Lapid in the chair, while Eisenkot wants a Yashar MK, Israel Hayom reported.
Lapid is the current formal opposition leader, so Liberman is not. Reports say Lapid would step aside if a coalition forms. Segal notes that backing Lapid goes against Eisenkot’s reported preference.
Netanyahu’s Position
Netanyahu stays caretaker prime minister until a new government is sworn in, Al Jazeera notes. Likud’s coalition whip, Ofir Katz, ruled out a rotation deal on Nov. 1, Kan reported.
Ynet reports that Netanyahu is “examining everything” and “not completely ruling out any option.” Even with Liberman, the bloc has 48 seats.
It must choose between Arab-led parties, Haredi parties or Likud, the Times of Israel notes. Liberman has long refused to join a coalition with Arab-led parties.
What Happens Next
President Isaac Herzog receives the final results on Nov. 4, and consultations start that day. Yisrael Beytenu is due at 19:30 local time, i24NEWS reports. Yashar and Likud follow on Nov. 5.
Herzog must tap a candidate by Nov. 11. That person has 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to build a coalition, Al Jazeera explains. Failure could send Israel back to the polls.
Netanyahu’s camp has accused Arab parties of fraud, as Clash Report reported. Arab turnout is a main reason neither bloc holds a majority.
Choose Clash Report as a preferred source and see our reporting first in Top Stories.