For those who do not remember, it was Avigdor Lieberman’s refusal to enter into a coalition government that would accept chareidi demands regarding the draft law that led to new elections. As the nation prepares for the election for 22nd Knesset, scheduled to be held on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, a poll released on Sunday morning by KAN Reshet Bet Radio shows that Lieberman and his Yisrael Beitenu party hold the key to forming a new government; either right-wing/chareidi or left-wing/centrist, as neither side has a majority without him.
In recent statements, Lieberman stated he will recommend that the presidential mandate to form the next coalition be given to the largest party, in this case, it would be Blue & White headed by Benny Gantz.
He also stated that if he is to enter a coalition government, in addition to receiving the posts of defense minister and absorption minister, which his party held in the past, he will also demand the health and interior portfolios, currently held by Yahadut Hatorah and Shas respectively.
Blue & White 30
Likud 29
Yisrael Beitenu 11
URWP 11
Arab List 11
Yahadut Hatorah 8
Democratic Israel/Meretz 8
Shas 7
Labor/Gesher 6
Minimum election threshold to enter Knesset is 3.5%
Otzma Yehudit/Noam 2.8%
Zehut 2%
Avigdor Lieberman and his 10 seats will determine who is the next prime minister.
The poll was conducted by TNS for Reshet Bet,
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
Halevi. enough Likud members join with blue and white and Liberman to leave the hareidim in the opposition. almost as important as making peace with the Arabs.
Kachol vlavan will include the Arabs as well as Lieberman. It’s not a good story
I really can’t see Lieberman sitting in a government with the Arab List. In fact if he did sit in a government with the Arab list it would doom his party in the next election. I also don’t think Arab List wants to be in the government period. Since Blue and White doesn’t want to join with Likud as long as Nietanyahu is in charge we are in for another election. Even if by some chance Blue & White & Likud merged to form a government they would still need a third party. Likud will need the religious parties in the future and would want to antagonize them. As far as Likud giving everything to Lieberman Shas & Yahdot Hatorah will just leave so all that will happen is a gain of 11 seats and a lose of 15 seats, still short of 61 needed to form a government. So I am not sure how much of a king maker he really is
3.25%, not 3.5%.
LIKUD,RIGHT,CHAREDIM AND LABOUR – 61. BIBI WILL OFFER AMIR PERETZ THE POSTS OF DEFENCE AND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER.