"No Bibi, No Tibi": Liberman Shuts Door on Netanyahu and Arab Parties
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman refuses to partner with Benjamin Netanyahu or Ahmad Tibi amid election turmoil and foreign interference probes.
In a move that further complicates the political landscape in Jerusalem, Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman has made his position crystal clear: he will not enter into a coalition with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or Ahmad Tibi of the Joint List. Speaking to party activists, Liberman reaffirmed a stance he had maintained even before the polls, signaling a rigid boundary in the quest to form a government.
A Firm Line in the Sand
Liberman’s declaration, "We will not sit with Bibi or with Tibi," mirrors a phrase used during the Likud campaign, utilizing the Prime Minister's common nickname. According to reports from the Times of Israel, Liberman believes that the events unfolding since the election only reinforce his previous commitments. He stated that there have been too many developments to rush into a decision, adding that his party will wait for the "dust to settle" before determining their next steps.
Liberman has long argued that a Netanyahu-led administration poses a risk to Israel's security. In the lead-up to the elections, he framed a vote against the Prime Minister as a vote for a more resilient State of Israel. His vision for the country, shared through a poignant message featuring his grandson on the eve of polling, emphasized a society based on equality before the law, universal military or civilian service, the legalization of civil marriages, and a "live and let live" philosophy free from coercion.
Netanyahu’s Counter-Strategy
While Liberman distances himself, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leveraging the fear of a left-leaning coalition to consolidate his base. Netanyahu has characterized the opposition as a dangerous bloc that would be forced to rely on Arab political factions to maintain power—a scenario he claims voters find unacceptable.
In a late-night message, Netanyahu urged supporters to vote exclusively for Likud, warning that the alternative would be a government led by figures like Liberman and Gadi Eisenkot, supported by Yair Golan and Arab parties, which he suggests would only please Israel's enemies.
The "Ra'amgate" Firestorm
The political tension has been exacerbated by a burgeoning scandal involving allegations of foreign interference in the Knesset elections. The Israel Election Committee has ordered an investigation into claims that foreign entities may have bribed voters to favor Arab parties.
Netanyahu's "Earthquake" Claim
The Prime Minister has described these allegations, which he dubbed "Ra'amgate," as a political earthquake. Netanyahu has called the situation an attack on democracy and a potential "foreign takeover" of the Knesset, suggesting that such interference aims to "Islamize" Israel and undermine the IDF, particularly in its confrontation with Iran.
Following statements from Justice Noam Sohlberg, the Chair of the Israeli Central Elections Committee, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) has been tasked with investigating these claims. Specifically, the agency is probing allegations of Qatari influence in the recent electoral process.
Opposing Views on the Probe
While Netanyahu has demanded an immediate and full-scale investigation by the police and Shin Bet to prevent any Zionist party from cooperating with Ra'am or the Joint List, his critics have a different take. Opponents of the Prime Minister have accused him of attempting to delegitimize the election results, although they have expressed their own support for the ongoing probe to ensure transparency.
Avigdor Liberman has also weighed in on the controversy, calling for a swift investigation into the allegations of foreign meddling as the country awaits the final outcome of its political deadlock.