Liberman: I’ll join government if PM vows to destroy Hamas, kill its leaders

Yisrael Beytenu chairman and former defense minister Avigdor Liberman says he will join the current government if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — together with the defense minister and IDF chief of staff — “stand in front of the cameras and inform the Jewish people” that the government intends to “eliminate the Hamas terror organization and all its terrorist leaders,” and will not suffice with anything less.

“I understand that we have other challenges including in the north against Hezbollah, captives in the Gaza Strip, the intentional community and other challenges,” says Liberman in a statement to the press.

“Our priorities must be clear — the elimination of Hamas and the heads of Hamas… Only in this way can we restore security to residents of the south and the rest of Israel’s citizens, and bring back our captives and those missing,” he adds.

It is unclear if Liberman has been asked to join the government and a Likud spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Netanyahu has proposed that the opposition Yesh Atid and National Unity parties join what would become a national unity government, but they have yet to agree to terms and publicly accept.