BICOM

Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Lieberman surprisingly announced yesterday that his party would not join a Likud-led coalition, leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the prospect of a single-seat parliamentary majority.

Yisrael Beitenu won six seats during last month’s election and had been widely expected to join the coalition being constructed by Netanyahu, who must present a workable coalition to President Reuven Rivlin by tomorrow night. However, at a press conference yesterday, Lieberman announced that he would choose “principles and not portfolios” opting not to join a “government that smacks of opportunism.” Lieberman expressed disappointment that legislation spearheaded by his party had been dropped in coalition agreements already signed with Kulanu and United Torah Judaism, in particular an initiative to define Israel as a Jewish nation state and attempts to increase the ultra-Orthodox military draft.

Lieberman said that he would resign as Foreign Minister. Possible candidates for his replacement include senior Likud MKs including Yuval Steinitz and Gilad Erdan, plus Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett, whose party is yet to sign a coalition agreement but is expected to do so. Israel Radio reports that Lieberman’s announcement prompted an emergency meeting of the Jewish Home faction, which will now press Likud to hand it control of a senior portfolio, namely the Foreign Ministry.

Meanwhile, ultra-Orthodox party Shas did join the Likud-led coalition yesterday. It will take control of the Economy Ministry, Religious Affairs Ministry, Ministry for the Development of Negev and Galilee, plus two deputy minister positions. Shas leader Aryeh Deri said that “We always wanted a wide government,” but that “Sometimes a small and homogenous coalition is better than a wide one.”

In the absence of Yisrael Beitenu, Netanyahu’s nascent government will include Likud, Kulanu, United Torah Judaism, Shas and with Jewish Home also expected to join, commanding 61 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. Although a workable government, such an arrangement would leave Netanyahu and his policies vulnerable to demands by coalition partners.