Herzog freezes coalition talks as Netanyahu courts Liberman

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to meet with Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the inclusion of the hawkish six-seat party in the razor-thin coalition, prompting Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog to say he was freezing the coalition talks he’s been holding with the premier.

Liberman on Wednesday held a press conference denying that Netanyahu, who has been steeped in marathon coalition negotiations with Herzog, ever directly extended an offer to his party to join the government, and said he would consider such a move if his demands were met.

“I heard repeatedly in the media that we received such-and-such offers,” said Liberman, adding that “we didn’t hear anything through official [channels].”

“We do not rule out — and have never ruled out — entering the government under certain conditions,” he continued. “There is no personal issue, and all the personal matters are irrelevant. If our main issues are addressed, we have what to talk about.”

Liberman’s party was demanding the defense portfolio, support for the death penalty for convicted terrorists, and efforts to resolve the pension crisis for Israelis from the former Soviet Union.

His ultra-nationalist party is the only right-wing faction in the opposition, which is led by the Zionist Union and includes the Joint (Arab) List. Netanyahu commands a 61-member coalition in the 120-seat Knesset, meaning the departure of any members could compromise his wafer-thin majority.

Liberman and Netanyahu ran on the same list in the 2013 elections, but had a public falling out in 2014 over the prime minister’s handling of the war in Gaza.

The prime minister subsequently called a meeting with Liberman for Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m, but sources close to the prime minister maintained the meetings did not “close the door to the Labor party.”

Herzog, though, in an address on Wednesday, said he would not continue the negotiations so long as Yisrael Beytenu’s inclusion in the coalition was on the table.

“Until Netanyahu decides where he is going, we will not conduct parallel negotiations,” announced Herzog.

“If Netanyahu wants to bring Liberman into the government, then let him do it,” Herzog said, insisting that Zionist Union would not serve in the coalition together with Liberman, and implying that his party was seeking the defense portfolio. “We will take them apart from the opposition.”

Referring to Tuesday’s statements by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi regarding a new push to end the Israel-Palestinian conflict, Herzog said: “The Egyptian president does not work for me or for Netanyahu.” He added, “The chance to make the most of this opportunity is now in Netanyahu’s hands.”

Meanwhile, Likud ministers lined up to laud the reconciliation efforts with Yisrael Beytenu.

“I urge the prime minister to seriously examine the possibility to expand the government through accelerated negotiations with Yisrael Beytenu,” said Immigration Minister Ze’ev Elkin.

“The goal of expanding the government is within reach,” added Tourism Minister Yariv Levin. “I urge Liberman to come and seal the negotiations as soon as today.”

“We intend to have real and quick negotiations to settle the matter without delay,” Levin added.

Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz similarly termed Yisrael Beytenu “the natural partner for the national government headed by Likud,” and encouraged “quick negotiations.”

Netanyahu on Sunday called upon Liberman to add his party to the coalition.

“Leave Zoabi and join the government,” he said at the weekly cabinet meeting, alluding to Joint List MK Hanin Zoabi, a constant target of derision from Liberman. The prime minister said Liberman had signaled willingness to ally himself with the government.

On Tuesday night, Channel 10 reported that Liberman last week rejected an offer to join the coalition in exchange for the Defense Ministry and support for death penalty measure. But members of both Likud and Yisrael Beytenu dismissed the report as “spin.” Liberman brushed off Netanyahu’s call in a Facebook post, saying Netanyahu was courting Zionist Union, and if he were to get a serious offer he would consider it.

Any coalition deal will likely be finalized by early next week, when the Knesset summer session opens.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.