Lieberman Opens Door to Likud Coalition Without Netanyahu

Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman opened the door to a post-election coalition with Likud if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not part of it, calling Likud a legitimate partner while drawing a personal red line over Netanyahu's responsibility for October 7. He said Israel needs a Zionist and statesmanlike government rather than one built around protecting the current prime minister's seat, and warned that security discipline is being strained by unresolved service and coalition disputes. The statement matters because it tests whether center-right voters can imagine a national coalition that keeps the Zionist right relevant while demanding accountability, service responsibility and stable governing discipline.