Liberman rules out joining Gantz, but says ‘clear answers’ needed from Netanyahu

Yisrael Beytenu party leader Avigdor Liberman rules out recommending Blue and White chief Benny Gantz as the next prime minister, but says joining a government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu is not a given.

“The existing options are joining Netanyahu’s government or staying in the opposition,” says Liberman, who according to near-final results has won five seats in the next Knesset.

If there are no changes as the soldiers’, diplomats’ and prisoners’ votes are tallied, Yisrael Beytenu will have a pivotal role in the next coalition, since without it the right-wing bloc only has 60 seats in the 120-member Knesset and cannot form a government.