Yisrael Beytenu leader says Netanyahu made the Likud party ‘slaves’ for the ultra-Orthodox, while the Blue and White leader Gantz failed to accept the president’s outline; will fight for compulsory voting legislation
With 11 hours left to form coalition, the apparent kingmaker Avigdor Liberman says Israel is on track for an unprecedented third election in 12 months. According to the Yisrael Beytenu leader both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz are to blame for failing to establish a unity government.
Gantz has until Wednesday midnight to put together a coalition before the mandate returns to President Reuven Rivlin, but without Liberman that appears virtually impossible. If he fails, as expected, the country enters the final 21-day period for a candidate to present a majority before new elections are called.
Speaking at a special press conberence, the 61-year-old said he made “every effort” and “left no stones unturned” in trying to push for a “liberal” unity government, but after weeks of negotiations he said he could not endorse either side.
Liberman claimed the bid for the unity coalition failed because Netanyahu made the Likud party “slaves” for the ultra-Orthodox, while the Blue and White leader Gantz failed to accept President Reuven Rivlin’s outline, which required the prime minister to be the first in rotation for the premiership.
“The only thing that stood in the way of unity government, and I would like to quote the president here, was a personal argument,” Liberman said. “There was substantial gaps on issues.”
Liberman added that any narrow government that could potentially be established now, whether it’s Gantz-led minority coalition supported by the Arab parties or Netanyahu-led right-wing bloc coalition, would quickly dissolve. “All we see in the current situation is a sure way to another election,” he said.
He said he will push for Knesset to adopt a legislation that makes voting in national ballot compulsory in an effort to avoid a similar political crisis in the future
A senior Blue and White official earlier said a meeting between Netanyahu and Gantz a day before was a “show” Netanyahu put on for Liberman to persuade him that he is willing to enter a unity government.
“Netanyahu has already decided to go to elections, because that’s what his attorneys are telling him, and all he’s trying to do now is to shift the responsibility onto Gantz.”
As reported by Ynetnews