Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman stressed on Tuesday that the only framework in which he would consider joining a unity government would be if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu broke with the religious-haredi bloc.
During a tour of Herodium National Park outside Jerusalem, Lieberman said, "During Sukkot, it's hard to talk about disputes and arguments. The only conclusion is that we must gather together in a broad, liberation, national unity government. Under the framework I suggested, there is room for everyone."
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"As for all sorts of declarations I've heard recently in the media, we'd be very happy to hear from the prime minister that he is breaking up his bloc of haredim and messianics. If he does, we can talk. At any rate, we're still waiting for an answer from the Likud negotiating team about our request to start holding meetings and putting together guidelines acceptable to most of the people of Israel. Unfortunately, we still haven't gotten an answer. We have time and we have patience, [and] we'll wait."
Lieberman voiced criticism of the Likud after the party accused him of cooperation with the Arab parties.
"The only one who has cooperated with Arab MKs and Arab parties over the years, ever since the time of [Yasser] Arafat and the meetings at Wye River, is Netanyahu."
"We've heard [MK Abd Al Hakeem] Haj Yahya talk about how he enjoyed working with Miki Zohar and Natan Eshel; we've seen and read Eshel's articles. So right now the ones who are cooperating in the choice of a new [state] comptroller and with a law to dissolve the Knesset are the Likud and Netanyahu," Lieberman said.
When Yom Kippur ended, Lieberman announced a plan under which Yisrael Beytenu would join a unity government with Likud and Blue and White, with a rotation for prime minister based on President Reuven Rivlin's proposition.
Lieberman wrote: "The result of the Sept. 17 election speaks for itself and expresses more than anything the people's desire for a unity government. As I promised, I'm presenting a four-stage plan to establish a national unity government."
