While most Likudniks, Shas and Yahadut Hatorah feel that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has decided to move ahead without the chareidi parties in his new coalition, Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Lieberman feels this is not so, releasing a statement “we haven’t yet given up on the chareidim”.

Speaking with Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) on Thursday morning 18 Adar 5773, Lieberman stated “We know there will be a coalition. We haven’t given up on the chareidim yet. We are hoping to build as large a coalition as possible. There is still a chance that the chareidim will join, and a lesser chance that Labor will too” he explained.

When asked if it is true that Netanyahu has opted to go with Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett instead of the chareidi parties Lieberman replied “There is much written [in the media], a good deal of it nonsense. One should not take everything one reads too seriously.”

“The nation needs a broad coalition. Most Bayit Yehudi and Labor voters want to be a part of the Netanyahu coalition. Most want a broad stable coalition. I don’t recall in the past of a case in which a coalition was assembled in 28 days” added Lieberman.

He added that at present, they are part of a transition government that does not have a budget. He calls on those involved in negotiations to be flexible to some degree regarding their personal aspirations since “Iran and Syria are not waiting for us to build a coalition”, stressing the urgency of completing efforts to assemble a new government coalition.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)