Liberman: Netanyahu will always capitulate to ultra-Orthodox

Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman on Thursday slammed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for “capitulating” to the demands of the ultra-Orthodox parties, and said the premier would cling on to political life until 2069, when he would be 120 years old.

In an address at a Yisrael Beytenu convention, Liberman pledged that his party would never join a left-leaning coalition, but said he wouldn’t commit to recommending Netanyahu for the premiership in future elections. Yisrael Betenyenu is the “real right,” he said, while bashing Netanyahu for failing to stop the near-daily terror attacks, halting construction in East Jerusalem, and opposing the death penalty for terrorists.

In response, Netanyahu’s Likud party derided the hawkish former foreign minister as a left-winger who “betrayed right-wing voters.”

“I don’t think that everyone is aware” of the “depth of Netanyahu’s commitment to the ultra-Orthodox,” Liberman said.

When Yisrael Beytenu went to the president to recommend Netanyahu for the premiership last year, it didn’t place demands on the Likud leader in advance, he said.

“But I know the man well. Even very well. Therefore I said I won’t sign a coalition agreement before I see the agreement with the Haredim,” said Liberman, who also served as head of the Prime Minister’s Office during Netanyahu’s first stint as premier.

“When I saw the agreement I understood something else: that his understandings with the Haredi parties are not only for the 20th Knesset, but the 21st and the 22nd and so forth. In short, for all the future Knessets in which he intends to participate in. And believe me, he plans to stay in politics until 2069,” he said.

The ultra-Orthodox will always be given first preference, Liberman charged, and Netanyahu “will always capitulate to their demands.”

Continuing his assault on Netanyahu, Liberman said “Mr. Prime Minister, we don’t trust you.”

“In the next election, we won’t commit in advance to support you for prime minister,” he said. “What I can pledge to you is that Yisrael Beytenu will never be part of a left-wing coalition.”

The former foreign minister specifically called out Netanyahu for being “unwilling to fight terror,” for opposing the death penalty for terrorists, and for not boosting construction in the settlement blocs and East Jerusalem.

“We are the real right — not you,” he said.

In response the Likud party accused Liberman of “betraying” his constituents.

“All of Liberman’s pathetic slogans and excuses can’t cover up the fact that is clear to all: Despite his explicit promises, Liberman betrayed the right-wing voters, and is now joining up with the left in an effort to topple the right-wing government,” the governing party said.

The party accused Liberman of “impersonating the right” and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid — “the leader of a left-wing party — of “impersonating the center.”

Liberman and Lapid were set to have a joint conference next week on Israel’s international standing.

Liberman, a former partner to Netanyahu who sat in two of the prime minister’s governments and served as foreign minister in the last government, refused to join the coalition after last March’s elections, citing his objections to deals signed with other partners. Yisrael Beytenu is the sole right-wing party in the opposition.