Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman wrote to prime ministerial candidates Gideon Sa’ar, Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett on Wednesday, calling on them to join forces and run together with him on what he termed as a Center-Right liberal Zionist list.
In his letter, Liberman warned of the influence of Shas and United Torah Judaism and said it is necessary to unite to prevent damage to the economy. He also complained about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s alliance with Joint List MK Mansour Abbas.
“Such a bloc would be a true alternative to Netanyahu, and can ensure his replacement, which so many citizens want,” he wrote. “Such an upheaval would allow Israel to achieve what the most thriving countries in the world are achieving.”
Liberman acknowledged that there are differences between the parties but said he was sure they could be overcome for the good of the country.
He proposed that the list back a series of laws, including a requirement for parties to run at least three female candidates in their top ten, mandatory army service, term limits for prime ministers and preventing anyone under indictment from seeking the presidency or the premiership.
Sources in the parties to whom Liberman wrote, described the letter as a publicity stunt and a desperate attempt to attract attention. Lapid said his party had repeatedly proven that it would not “give up values for seats.”
Bennett wrote on Twitter that “what has to be done right now is to help 800,000 unemployed Israelis and not just four politicians” and “anything other than that is not interesting.”
Likud faction chairman Miki Zohar responded by saying that there was no chance such a list could be formed because of the party leaders’ “egos.”