Yisrael Beytenu leader MK Avigdor Liberman stated on Thursday that his party would not support any minority government or join a government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the elections “under any circumstances.”
Liberman’s statement appeared to close the door on a minority government led by Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot after the October 27 election if neither his bloc nor Netanyahu’s secures a 61-seat majority.
"We will not support any minority government, including a minority government for a transitional period," Liberman stated in an X/Twitter post.
Yisrael Beytenu is part of the opposition bloc seeking to replace Netanyahu in the elections. The party has recently polled around nine to 10 seats.
Recent polling shows that neither Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition bloc can secure a majority without the support of the Arab parties.
Liberman demands Zionist-only coalition, rules out Netanyahu
Liberman also stated on Thursday that a coalition would be formed "consisting exclusively of Zionist parties."
"No Ra’am, no Joint List, no Shas, and no United Torah Judaism," Liberman stated, referring to both Arab and haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties.
He also vowed that Yisrael Beytenu would not sit in a government with Netanyahu's Likud under any circumstances as long as Netanyahu remained the party's leader.
"Likud without Netanyahu can be a significant partner," Liberman added.
"I believe we will achieve a solid majority in the upcoming election, despite the polls. Beyond that, I know several MKs within Likud who understand the gravity of the moment.”
“They understand that Bibi has turned them into subcontractors for [former United Torah Judaism leader Yitzhak] Goldknopf and [Shas party leader Arye] Deri, and will therefore be willing to make up the numbers and join a Zionist coalition," Liberman stated.
Opposition faces uncertainty over minority government prospects
The four main opposition parties in the bloc are Eisenkot's Yashar, Naftali Bennett's B'Yachad, Yair Golan's Democrats, and Liberman's Yisrael Beytenu.
While the parties have signed an agreement to cooperate before the election, they have yet to decide how to choose the opposition bloc’s prime minister candidate.
Liberman’s statement also came after Joint List chairperson Yousef Jabareen laid out a series of demands on Saturday as conditions for providing political support to a minority government.
Jabareen's announcement has renewed speculation that the Joint List, which includes the Hadash, Ta'al, and Balad parties, could pave the way for a minority government led by Eisenkot to be sworn in.
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.