Liberman insists he wants national unity while leaving door open to minority government

Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman reiterates that the political solution he will be working toward over the next two days is a unity government.

“If by noon on Wednesday we have not reached an agreement then as far as I am concerned we have failed [at forming a unity government] and it’ll be every man for himself,” Liberman tells reporters ahead of a faction meeting at the Knesset, seemingly leaving the door open for negotiations for a minority government during Blue and White’s final 12 hours to form a coalition before the midnight deadline later that day.

Asked about his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday, Liberman says it was very “businesslike” and that they did not waste time discussing personal quarrels.

Notably, the Yisrael Beytenu chairman describes his goal over the next 48 hours as the formation of a “national unity government,” dropping the word “liberal,” which he has used frequently in the past, and thus perhaps suggesting more flexibility toward the ultra-Orthodox parties.

Liberman refuses to answer which scenario he views as worse: the formation of a minority government or a third election. Netanyahu said last night that the consequences of the former option would be far more severe — an “existential threat” to the country.

— Jacob Magid