Yisrael Beitenu leader MK Avidgor Liberman launched a new campaign on Wednesday, ahead of the upcoming elections, calling for a decisive military outcome on all fronts and vowed that he would not sit in a government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “even if the world turns upside down.”
Launching the campaign at a press conference in Tel Aviv, Liberman argued that it was “impossible to keep living from one round of fighting to the next.”
“We need to achieve a decisive outcome, no matter how long it takes. The top priority must be defeating Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas,” he said.
“This is a security and strategic disaster that must be ended. We must move from a reality of cycles to a reality of decisive outcomes. Cycles without resolution lead to erosion, fatigue, anger, frustration, and anxiety.”
Regarding alliances with other opposition parties ahead of the elections, Liberman responded to the press that he was maintaining good contact and that anything that would bring more mandates to the bloc would be done.
“I have two goals: to replace the October 7 government and to become prime minister,” Liberman said.
Sharon Sharabi (left), brother of former Hamas hostage Eli Sharabi, and Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman (right). (credit: YISRAEL BEYTENU)
“Any move that adds value must be made; anything that doesn’t contribute to strengthening the bloc is, in my view, a waste,” he said.
Liberman will do ‘whatever helps to get the most mandates’
Liberman also addressed recent reports that he was considering a merger with Yashar! Party leader Gadi Eisenkot.
He did not reject the possibility of such an alliance with Eisenkot and responded that “whatever helps to get the most mandates, we will do.”
Amid recent reports that Liberman was considering partnering with Netanyahu, Liberman denied any possibility of such a scenario.
“I emphasize that even if the world turns upside down, I will not sit with Netanyahu,” he said.
“And it’s not personal. He [Netanyahu] evaded responsibility for the [October 7] massacre and is not fit to serve.”
Liberman laid out six areas that, he argued, if not handled correctly and brought to a decisive outcome, “will leave the country without a future.”
The first three areas called for decisive military outcomes with Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas.
The other three areas called for universal conscription, addressing crime and criminal organizations to restore security, and establishing a constitution to address the country’s “constitutional crisis.”
Liberman said he was holding the press conference to address “what truly matters.”
No exemptions for military service
Regarding haredi (ultra-Orthodox) conscription, he said that in the next government, no one would be exempt from the IDF.
“Not a single yeshiva student will be exempt, not even a fraction. One hundred percent conscription, with no compromises. We will not agree to a partial conscription law,” he added.
Liberman vowed that he would not enter any government that would not commit to a universal draft.
“It’s take it or leave it, we won’t agree to anything else,” he added.
Liberman sharply criticized the crime rates in the country, saying that Israel had reached a level of “existential danger” and required total change.
He also addressed left-wing Democrats leader Yair Golan’s call on the opposition bloc on Tuesday to partner with Arab parties and form a coalition with them after the elections.
When asked about such an option, Liberman rejected any possibility of sitting in a government with Arab parties.
Liberman said that Golan was “talking nonsense” and that it was anti-Zionist to consider such an option.
He added that Ra’am party leader Mansour Abbas “wants to be the [haredi party] ‘Shas’ of the Arabs, and I’ve had enough of Shas of the Jews.”
Liberman also noted that he would not reject the Likud party if it were no longer led by Netanyahu and agreed to Yisrael Beitenu’s principles.
Liberman vowed to conduct a state commission of inquiry into government failures on October 7.
He said that for those attacks, there was “clear responsibility. The largest massacre in Israel’s history is on him [Netanyahu].”
“The difference between the prime minister of October 7 and me is that on my watch, the October 7 massacre would not have happened.”
“On my watch, after two and a half years, we would have reached a decisive outcome on all four fronts,” Liberman said.
What is Yisrael Beytenu
Yisrael Beitenu is part of the opposition bloc seeking to replace Netanyahu in elections scheduled for no later than October. It holds a hawkish security stance and advocates for expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank. It also calls for universal conscription, pushing to draft the haredi population. The party strongly advocates for a separation of religion and state.
Liberman has served in key security and diplomatic positions in previous governments, including as defense minister, foreign minister, and finance minister. In 2018, he resigned as defense minister from Netanyahu’s government in protest at a ceasefire agreement with Hamas following a round of heavy rocket fire from the terror group toward Israel.
Sharon Sharabi, brother of former Hamas hostage Eli Sharabi, announced on Monday that he was entering politics and joining the party ahead of the elections.
Capt. (res.) Israel Ben-Shitrit also joined Yisrael Beitenu on Tuesday. He was seriously wounded during his reserve service in 2024, fighting in Khan Younis following an encounter with terrorists.
Sharabi and Ben-Shitrit attended the press conference along with other of the party’s Knesset members.