Kingmaker Avigdor Liberman gives up on coalition

Gantz: I trust Netanyahu less than when talks started.

Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Yisrael Beytenu Avigdor Liberman announced in interviews on Army Radio and in Yediot Ahronot on Thursday that he believes no government is possible and it is time for elections.
There had been speculation that Liberman would allow a right-wing government to be formed by next Wednesday night's deadline to prevent a third election. But he ruled this option out Thursday, saying "I will not join the Right or the Left." 
"I did everything to prevent a third election," Liberman told Yediot Aharonot. "The unity option and a narrow government no longer exist."
Liberman said both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz are to blame, because they both had made a strategic decision to go to elections instead of forming a national unity government together.
"It would require a great miracle for this to change," Liberman said.
Maariv and Haaretz reported that Gantz is more pessimistic than ever of a unity government being formed and is angry about the way Netanyahu treated him when they met on Tuesday. Gantz told confidants that he trusted Netanyahu even less now than he did at the start of the talks.
"Liberman could make a government with us and that is his decision," Netanyahu said said as he left for Lisbon on Wednesday. "The country requires a unity government and not unnecessary elections, but if we will be stuck with elections, we will win them."