|
World Jewish News
Lieberman recommends Bibi for PM but wants Livni in government
19.02.2009
After a week of keeping his cards very close to his chest, Israel Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman on Thursday arrived at the President's Residence and revealed that his party would endorse Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu for prime minister. Lieberman, however, conditioned his recommendation on the formation of a broad government that will include Kadima, but said that he was opposed to a rotation at the helm of the government.
Lieberman said that he was opposed to the option of an "instable government composed of 65 MKs from six parties…Both Netanyahu and [Kadima leader Tzipi] Livni will be committed to constructing a foundation, drafting guidelines, and agreeing on principles," Lieberman said. "Bibi needs to get used to talk of a broad government and Tzipi needs to get used to the fact that there can be no rotation, which contains an element of instability and has not proven itself in past instances."
Lieberman reiterated that although "the rest of the factions are welcome to join" he would be satisfied with a coalition made up of the 70 Knesset members from Likud, Kadima and Israel Beiteinu.
The Likud expressed its satisfaction over the endorsement, saying that they "welcome Lieberman's announcement."
"It is now completely clear that a majority of MKs will endorse Netanyahu to form a government," the Likud statement continued, "and therefore Peres should entrust him with building a coalition."
Reacting to Israel Beiteinu's endorsement during a tour of the South, Livni implied that Kadima would not join a government led by Likud.
"Politics are not only numbers, but a path," she said. "I will continue not only believing in our way, but also leading it, and I don't intend to become a fig-leaf for diplomatic paralysis. There is a path, and Israel should walk it."
Incumbent Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit of Kadima said that Israel Beiteinu recommendation of Netanyahu came as no surprise to him and his party.
Attempting to join forces with Israel Beiteinu was admittedly a mistake, added Sheetrit in an interview with Army Radio. "Those who approached [Lieberman] on behalf of Kadima made a severe political blunder, since responding to him caused Labor and Meretz to boycott us, and ruled out any alternative for us," he said.
Joining a coalition will bring upon the demise of Kadima, Sheetrit continued, insisting: "We cannot be the rubber-stamp for a right-wing regime; we cannot be a fig-leaf. We must go to the opposition, since joining a Likud government will obliterate Kadima."
Labor MK Ophir Paz-Pines reacted to the endorsement with a harsh attack on Kadima.
"Kadima's dismissal of a possible attempt to achieve a victory for the Central and Left-wing bloc, its pathetic attempt to claim 'victory,' and the fatal wooing of Lieberman led to this lamentable result," he said in a statement.
"Kadima baked a cake, and will now have to eat it, perhaps in a future victory party," mocked Paz-Pines.
Earlier, Labor chairman Ehud Barak announced that his party would not endorse any candidate for prime minister and would opt instead to head for the opposition.
"The electorate has given the word," Barak said at the opening of a Labor faction meeting. "The picture is complicated and disturbing when Israel Beiteinu is the one to recommend who Israel's next prime minister will be. We are left with only one option, and that is to decide not to recommend anyone for the premiership."
Labor joins Meretz and the three Arab parties in deciding to remain in the opposition no matter who forms a government, to protest the assurances that Kadima gave Israel Beiteinu in pursuit of chairman Avigdor Lieberman's endorsement. Both Labor and Meretz are also being pressed to rehabilitate their parties after their losses in last Tuesday's election.
Peres's second day of coalition consultations began Thursday morning in a meeting with representatives of the Habayit Hayehudi party, who recommended Likud as the party to form the next government.
Habayit Hayehudi chairman Daniel Hershkowitz said that his party was in agreement with the Likud's response to the coalition demands of Israel Beiteinu. "Lieberman heads a Zionist party and I believe that we can sit with them peacefully," Hershkowitz said.
Shas also told Peres that it was endorsing Netanyahu.
United Torah Judaism decided on Wednesday to join the Likud, Shas, Habayit Hayehudi and the National Union for a total of 50 MKs who will recommend to President Shimon Peres that Likud chairman Binyamin Netanyahu form a government.
Two days after Kadima responded positively to all of Israel Beiteinu's demands except for the initiation of a loyalty oath, Likud followed suit, agreeing to its requests to topple Hamas, change the electoral system, fund immigrants and find solutions for converts seeking an easier path into Judaism and couples seeking recognition for civil unions without a religious ceremony.
Kadima and Likud each mocked the commitments of the other for not being specific enough, but the head of Israel Beiteinu's negotiating team, MK Stas Meseznikov, said they were satisfied with the responses of both parties.
"Neither of their responses were perfect, but from the seriousness of what they wrote, we are confident that our five requests will be in the coalition guidelines, and that's what really matters to us," Meseznikov said.
Источник: JPost.com
|
|
