Lieberman Rejects Likud Mayors' Push to Join Netanyahu Coalition
Likud mayors met with Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman to urge him to join a coalition with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but Lieberman flatly rejected the proposal, citing a lack of trust.
A delegation of Likud mayors, including Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, held a meeting with Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman to pressure him into joining a coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to reports, the mediation efforts yielded no results, as Lieberman firmly rejected the proposal, stating he does not trust Netanyahu and believes he must step down.
The delegation, composed of local officials who have maintained long-standing ties with Lieberman for decades, urged him to support a Netanyahu-led government to prevent severe economic instability and administrative gridlock in local authorities. They warned that forcing the country into repeated elections would gravely damage national resilience and social cohesion. Despite these appeals, Lieberman maintained his resolute refusal to sit in a government headed by the incumbent prime minister.
Lieberman currently finds himself in the role of a political kingmaker during ongoing coalition negotiations, driven by his strict refusal to rely on Arab factions, ultra-Orthodox parties, or Netanyahu himself. Meanwhile, BeYachad leader Naftali Bennett reportedly sent a message to his allies in the change bloc stating he is willing to join a viable coalition if they can form one, following his announcement that he will recommend Gadi Eisenkot to President Isaac Herzog for the premiership.
In response, Lieberman has expressed reservations regarding Eisenkot's request for a formal recommendation endorsement. Eisenkot is reportedly planning a meeting with bloc leaders to coordinate upcoming legislative and political steps, while change bloc representatives have initiated contacts with Arab parties to gauge their potential recommendations for the presidency, with expectations leaning toward Eisenkot.
Eisenkot currently favors forming a government incorporating ultra-Orthodox factions over relying on Arab parties or entering a unity government with Netanyahu. In contrast, Likud officials have issued a stern warning that if United Torah Judaism aligns with Eisenkot, the ruling party will not hesitate to exclude them from future governing coalitions.
