Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday lambasted Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman over his calls for a national unity government, saying Lieberman was essentially seeking to install a left-wing government headed by Blue and White leader Benny Gantz.
Speaking with Russian voters Netanyahu said, "Lieberman wants Gantz as prime minister. If you vote for Lieberman you essentially vote for a left-wing government with Ehud Barak as defense minister and Yair Lapid as foreign minister. If you want to ensure we have a right-wing government you have to vote for Likud. Only a strong Likud will prevent a leftist government."
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Earlier on Tuesday evening, Liberman, addressing a campaign rally, said Yisrael Beytenu party plans to recommend for prime minister anyone who supports a unity government and that said government would strive to put an end to religious coercion in Israel.
Liberman also spoke forcibly of the need to separate religion and politics in Israel, insisting there needs to be a "fundamental change." He added that in the next coalition talks he will demand reforms allowing for public transportation on Shabbat, civil marriage, and a military draft law for the ultra-Orthodox โ all hot-button issues for haredi parties United Torah Judaism and Shas.
"We're not against the ultra-Orthodox but we are against religious coercion. We are for separation between religion and politics and we want them [Israel's religious minority] to integrate into Israeli society," he said.
