MK Ayelet Shaked, who is the chairwoman of the New Right party, remains optimistic, telling the Knesset Channel that she believes that Avigdor Lieberman and his Yisrael Beitenu party can join the right-wing bloc and the chareidim if both sides are willing to compromise a bit on some of the issues that currently divide them.

She explains that today, the Likud and Blue & White have not reached agreement and there is still the matter of who serves as prime minister first in a rotation agreement. She adds that the nation must not be compelled to enter into a third round of elections, explaining the right-wing’s strength has been diminished in the last election and it will suffer more in another election if required. She does not believe that Blue & White Chairman MK Benny Gantz will succeed in forming a coalition government.

Shaked warns that in a third round, it is possible the left-wing will reach 61 seats and form a government. She feels that Lieberman has nothing to do in a government with the left-wing, but if he brings achievements regarding important issues to his constituents, including the draft law, religion and state and pensions for immigrants from the Former Soviet Union, he could enter into a coalition with the right-wing bloc and the chareidim.

Shaked explains that if Lieberman shows a true willingness to avoid a third round of elections, he will find the chareidim willing to compromise since the chareidim are aware of the responsibility on their shoulders to prevent another round of elections too. Shaked feels there is little difference between Lieberman’s draft bill and the one backed by the chareidim. She calls on both the chareidim and Lieberman to compromise towards forming a coalition government.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)