Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avidgor Liberman on Wednesday called for a decisive military outcome on all fronts and vowed that he would not sit in a government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “even if the world turns upside down.”
He made his remarks during the launch of his party’s election campaign.
It was “impossible to keep living from one round of fighting to the next,” Liberman said at a press conference in Tel Aviv. “We need to achieve a decisive outcome, no matter how long it takes. The top priority must be defeating Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas.”
“This is a security and strategic disaster that must be ended,” he said. “We must move from a reality of cycles to a reality of decisive outcomes. Cycles without resolution lead to erosion, fatigue, anger, frustration, and anxiety.”
Liberman said he was remaining in touch with other parties regarding alliances ahead of the election to bring more mandates to the opposition bloc.
“I have two goals: to replace the October 7 government and to become prime minister,” Liberman said.
“Any move that adds value must be made,” he said. “Anything that doesn’t contribute to strengthening the bloc is, in my view, a waste.”
Liberman will do ‘whatever helps to get the most mandates’
Regarding recent reports that Liberman was considering a merger with Yashar! Party leader Gadi Eisenkot, he said: “Whatever helps to get the most mandates, we will do.”
Liberman said he would not consider partnering with Netanyahu.
“I emphasize that even if the world turns upside down, I will not sit with Netanyahu,” he said. “And it’s not personal. [Netanyahu] evaded responsibility for the [October 7] massacre and is not fit to serve.”
Decisive military outcomes with Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas, universal conscription, addressing crime and criminal organizations to restore security, and establishing a constitution to address the country’s “constitutional crisis” must be brought to a decisive outcome, or else it could “leave the country without a future,” Liberman said.
No exemptions for military service
“I emphasize that even if the world turns upside down, I will not sit with Netanyahu,” he said.
“And it’s not personal. He [Netanyahu] evaded responsibility for the [October 7] massacre and is not fit to serve.”
Liberman laid out six areas that, he argued, if not handled correctly and brought to a decisive outcome, “will leave the country without a future.”
The first three areas called for decisive military outcomes with Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas.
The other three areas called for universal conscription, addressing crime and criminal organizations to restore security, and establishing a constitution to address the country’s “constitutional crisis.”
Liberman said he was holding the press conference to address “what truly matters.”
Regarding haredi (ultra-Orthodox) conscription, he said no one would be exempt from the IDF by the next government.
“Not a single yeshiva student will be exempt, not even a fraction: 100% conscription with no compromises,” he added. “We will not agree to a partial conscription law.”
Liberman said he would not enter any government that does not commit to a universal draft.
“It’s take it or leave it,” he said. “We won’t agree to anything else.”
Liberman criticized the crime rates and said Israel had reached a level of “existential danger” and required total change.
Regarding the Democrats chairman Yair Golan’s call on Tuesday for the opposition bloc to partner with Arab parties and form a coalition with them after the elections, he rejected any possibility of sitting in a government with Arab parties.
Liberman said Golan was “talking nonsense,” and that it was anti-Zionist to consider such an option.
Ra’am (United Arab List) chairman Mansour Abbas “wants to be the [haredi party] ‘Shas’ of the Arabs, and I’ve had enough of Shas of the Jews,” he said.
Liberman said he would not reject the Likud Party if it were no longer led by Netanyahu and agreed to Yisrael Beytenu’s principles.
Liberman vowed to conduct a state commission of inquiry into government failures regarding the October 7 massacre.
There was “clear responsibility,” he said. “The largest massacre in Israel’s history is on him [Netanyahu].”
“The difference between the prime minister of October 7 and me is that on my watch, the October 7 massacre would not have happened,” Liberman said. “On my watch, after two and a half years, we would have reached a decisive outcome on all four fronts.”
Yisrael Beytenu has a hawkish security stance and advocates for expanding Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria. It also calls for universal conscription and drafting the haredi population. It strongly advocates for a separation of religion and state.
Liberman has served in key security and diplomatic positions in previous governments, including as defense, foreign, and finance minister. In 2018, he resigned as defense minister from Netanyahu’s government in protest over a ceasefire agreement with Hamas following a round of heavy rocket fire from the terrorist group toward Israel.
Sharon Sharabi, brother of former Hamas hostage Eli Sharabi, on Monday said he was entering politics and joining Yisrael Beytenu ahead of the election.
On Tuesday, Capt. (res.) Israel Ben-Sheetrit joined Yisrael Beytenu. He was seriously wounded during his reserve service in 2024, fighting in Khan Yunis following an encounter with terrorists.
Sharabi and Ben-Sheetrit attended the press conference along with Yisrael Beytenu MKs.
