Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman on Saturday presented something of an ultimatum to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz on Saturday, saying that they must both move to resolve the political deadlock impeding the formation of a national unity government.
In an interview with Channel 12 News, Liberman announced that between Netanyahu and Gantz, whoever falters on agreeing to the formation of a unity government – Yisrael Beytenu will back the rival candidate who would have agreed to it.
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"Gantz must accept the president's plan, including a leave of absence [for Netanyahu, if indicted], and Netanyahu should say goodbye to his ultra-Orthodox messianic bloc," Lieberman declared.
"I expect both of them to make the right decisions. I intend to appeal to both and request a meeting this week. Whoever makes the wrong decision – we in Yisrael Beytenu will draw the necessary conclusions. Whoever makes the wrong decision – we will support the other side," Lieberman said.
President Reuven Rivlin tasked Gantz with forming a coalition after Netanyahu failed to do so in the wake of the Sept. 17 elections.
But Gantz's chances of succeeding where Netanyahu has failed are just as slim, as Blue and White are highly unlikely to succeed in luring away members of the bloc of 55 lawmakers Likud formed with the ultra-Orthodox and the national-religious factions – who have vowed to only enter a Netanyahu-led government.
The bloc has been a major stumbling block in talks between Likud and Blue and White on the formation of a national unity government, and Rivlin's unity government scheme – seeking to see power equally divided between Likud and Blue and White and Netanyahu and Gantz each serve two years as premier – never even took off.
"The most important thing for Israel at this time is to prevent calling a third election and to establish a unity government. I believe that both [Netanyahu and Gantz] are both responsible and want what is best for the country," Lieberman said.
Neither Blue and White nor Likud have so far responded to Liberman's ultimatum.
