Liberman slams PM’s deal with ultra-Orthodox

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he will not join the next coalition, NRG reports.

Sources close to Liberman told the Hebrew-language website that the foreign minister was offended by the manner in which coalition negotiations were conducted.

Netanyahu can still establish a 61-MK strong coalition, but he will now be more vulnerable to the at-times competing demands of his coalition partners.

Additionally, the the slimness of the majority means the coalition will have less legislative power and will find it difficult to pass new bills.

Liberman reportedly criticized Netanyahu’s concessions to ultra-Orthodox parties on the issues of conversion and recruitment to the IDF. Both issues are important to the electorate of Yisrael Beytenu, which is largely composed of immigrants from the former Soviet Union.