Breaking silence, Liberman annouces he will support Eisenkot for PM, Lapid for Knesset speaker

Avigdor Liberman, head of the right-wing opposition party Israel Beitenu, announced on Monday that he would recommend Yahar party leader Gadi Eisenkot for the position of prime minister.

Liberman’s announcement came following several reports that he was refusing to meet with Eisenkot.

At the same time, Liberman said that he had agreed to support Opposition head and B’Yachad (Together) no. 2 Yair Lapid for the position of Knesset Speaker.

The announcement by Liberman came during a party meeting in the central Israeli city of Modi’in on Monday, in which he unequivocally stated his unwillingness to sit in a government headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“I don't think anyone was clearer than I was during the recent election campaign; it’s impossible to be any clearer,” Liberman said at the meeting. “Even if the world turns upside down, I will not sit with Netanyahu. Even if he were to offer me a rotation agreement—with me serving first—it simply won't happen.”

Liberman also confirmed reports that the Change Bloc of Gadi Eisenkot would seek to replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana as one of their first moves.

“He must be replaced. We will make that happen immediately,” Liberman said of Ohana, telling reporters that he would support the candidacy of B’Yachad (Together) party member Yair Lapid, the Opposition head in the previous Knesset.

“Yesh Atid [Lapid’s party] is the second-largest party [in the Change Bloc],” Liberman said. “Given his seniority and standing, Lapid is far more experienced and better suited for the role of Knesset Speaker.”

Liberman noted that in order to support Lapid’s candidacy, he did not ask for fellow party member Oded Forer to be considered for the role.

However, while stating his willingness to back Eisenkot for prime minister, Liberman also reaffirmed that he would not support a minority government supported by the Arab parties.

“I was also clear regarding the issue of a minority government. That will not happen,” Liberman explained. “I stated before the elections that we would not drag things out.”

“I have many grievances toward my partners regarding responsibility and fairness, but that is separate from their complaints. In a private, one-on-one conversation, I told Eizenkot that we would recommend him," Liberman clarified.

Despite endorsing Eisenkot for the position of premier, the Israel Beitenu leader also had harsh words for the Yashar chairman, blaming him for the Change Bloc’s poor showing in the elections, when earlier polls had shown them winning more seats.

He noted that while Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc had a weak showing in the elections, the Change Bloc did not capitalize on those poor results.

“Bibi and his partners have weakened,” Liberman told his party. “In the previous election, they secured 64 seats, and now only 53—a loss of 11 mandates.”

“The opposition failed as well; 48 seats is far fewer than we had anticipated," he said.

Liberman faulted discussion of a minority government before the elections as part of the cause.

“The campaign regarding a minority government caused us to bleed support,” Liberman explained. “Over the last 10 days [of the campaign], we lost between seven and eight seats due to the talk about a minority government. Likud supporters said they wanted to vote for Liberman, but in the end, they didn't—because they didn't want Gadi [Eisenkot] at the helm.”

When reporters pressed him on how he hoped to form a government that is not a minority government, Liberman insisted the Change Bloc has time.

“We will put it on Gadi; maybe he will succeed in splitting the Likud,” Liberman answered. “Maybe half of the Likud will come to us. We have patience. The Likud is hysterical because they are afraid of forming a government that is not headed by Netanyahu.”

Liberman also said he prefers forming a strong Zionist government that includes Likud but not Netanyahu.

“The ideal world is to form a Zionist coalition with the Likud and without Netanyahu. I'm not in a hurry to go anywhere. We have time,” he stated, but noted that going to reelections would be “a very bad option.”

President Isaac Herzog said Monday that he would soon start meeting with the various political factions, starting with the smallest parties.

Herzog’s office announced Monday that he would begin holding consultations with all parties elected to the 26th Knesset starting Wednesday.

“President Herzog has decided that, unlike in the past, he will begin this round of consultations with the smaller factions. The decision is intended to allow for a broad examination of all the options on the table before the consultations with the larger factions take place, and to encourage fresh thinking,” the statement read.