Yisrael Beytenu chief addresses failure to form unity government, blames both Netanyahu and Gantz.
By Arutz Sheva Staff, 20/11/19 13:23
Yisrael Beytenu Chairman MK Avigdor Liberman spoke out in a televised address Wednesday afternoon on the failure of the Likud and Blue and White to agree on the formation of a national unity government.
Liberman said in his address that both sides were at fault for the failure to reach a deal for a unity government.
The only thing preventing unity, said Liberman, was personal hostilities, not serious political issues, with one side, Blue and White, unwilling to share power, and the other, the Likud, unwilling to be flexible on what he termed the “messianic bloc” of religious and right-wing parties.
“If you ask me who’s to blame, I say both parties: Blue and White and Likud.” “I respect the President, but I don’t accept his plan.”
The Yisrael Beytenu leader ruled out the possibility of Blue and White chief Benny Gantz forming a minority government, saying Yisrael Beytenu would not support such an arrangement.
“We will not enter a government directly or indirectly supported by the Joint Arab List.”
Liberman also said his party would not help Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu form a narrow right-wing coalition.
The former defense minister went on to say that Israel is being held “captive” to the will of the Arabs and the haredim, dubbing the two a “true anti-Zionist axis”, and mentioned the arrival of the Satmar Rebbe yesterday, who “distributed millions of dollars,” and called upon the Tax Authority to investigate, asking “if that’s not money-laundering, how can you have complaints on others?”
@ Yonatan:
Many reasons why third election is not desirable in short here are some:
1. Israelis have security problems plus a whole host of problems from the healthcare sector to housing that need addressing. They need budgets and direction for this plus more. This is in limbo.
2. Elections are divisive and it divides Israelis more and it seems like this cycle will never end.
3. Elections cost both the government and individuals money (businesses close down as election day is a holiday). This compounded by many holidays and disruptions from security events like rockets from Gaza.
Schools close as they are used for election locations.
4. A flood of election ads go to people’s phones and are annoying.
5. Having no permanent government for one year plus soon is annoying to many.
6. Disruptive – Disruptive – Disruptive
Everybody says that third election is very undesirable and bad thing but nobody explains why?
It is because everybody than will understand that real reason and problem is dysfunctional and fake existing election law. This law must be changed before the third election. However, leftist deep state lead by enemy of any political changes in the country – leftist’s last citadel – High Court blocking and move forward and will of the people of Israel despite that this is it’s real job. Because than monopoly on political power of big parties may be lost. That is a big state secret, in my view, why nobody answers question asked above.
@ Bear Klein: We’ll see over the next three weeks. Remember–I said it Gantz might need some extra time to put things together.
@ Adam Dalgliesh:The only smart thing you said about the elections to date that I recall is that you would not bet on your numerous predictions that Gantz would form a coalition of 65 including the Arab Joint List and Liberman.
This saved you money or welching on the bet.
Another option Gantz may work on over the next three weeks is to recruit the two haredi policies to his coalition. That would mean excluding Leiberman, whom the haredim are furious at for as they see it, betraying them after having been their friend and ally for many years. But the haredim have fifteen seats, Leiberman only eight. In addition, the Arab ant-Zionist MKs have made it plain that they would rather work with the haredim than with Leiberman. THe haredim have never been particularly militant on national security issues, and the Arab delegates appreciate their non-Zionist ideological position. They also agree wit the haredim that the clergy (in their case, the Muslim clergy), should be permitted to retain certain powers, which Leiberman opposes.
@ Bear Klein: I still believe that Gantz will succeed in forming a government without the need for a third election. Mandelblit is said to be about to indict Netanyahu within the next few days–perhaps today (Thursday) Israeli time. Once it sinks in that Supreme Court is unlikely to allow an indicted Prime Minister to remain in office, some of the mKs who failed to support a Gantz government as of Wednesday will rethink their position. There might even be a few “defectors” from Likud, although I doubt if they will be numerous. But in any case he will probably collect the 61 necessary signatures. Leiberman and his followers will have time to reconcile themselves to the Joint List playing an informal “outside ” role in the government. So will the two Telem MKs who baulked at collaborating with the Joint List.
@ Michael S:
The system in the US is not the issue. It is that Dems decided to abuse the system because they did not accept the election of Trump.
The US is badly divided.
@ Bear Klein:
“Time to change electoral system. It was never good but now it is disaster.”
Israel’s electoral system is working about as well as those of the US and UK.
@ Dean Blake:
Perot had a chance to get GOP nomination and win race for POTUS until he pulled out because of threats.
Then he came as Independent and did kill Bush race and Bill Clinton became two term POTUS.
Liberman is an egomaniac but in end the Haredi would not compromise now in two elections because they want to force their religious practices on all of Israel.
Liberman is a ‘spoiler’ like Ross Peroit. Russian /Polish mentality to ruin his neighbors who have more than he.
Full article at https://www.timesofisrael.com/bennett-pitches-direct-pm-election-proposal-to-avert-3rd-knesset-vote/
Terrible third elections. Gantz returned Mandate. Blue/White stayed together.
Time to change electoral system. It was never good but now it is disaster.
Israel could end up in war at any moment with Iran and its allies. Israel was attacked yesterday from Syria by Iran. Israel responded with 20 plus attacks killing at least 23.
Many other issues such as Healthcare System that is waiting for budget for needed improvements.
3rd election …hopefully the clarifying moment.
Blue and White officials: We’ll try for unity government ‘until the last moment’
Despite Liberman claiming both sides reject compromise, Gantz’s party says he will continue efforts till midnight to prevent third election and form a coalition with Likud.
Bibi is also vocalizing efforts for a unity government with his Block of 55 plus Blue/White (with hints of dropping Lapid’s Yesh Atid). Deri has come straight out said that. Not much chance realistically but hopefully this could work. Israeli politics are very strange sometimes.