Liberman Reportedly Plans to Seek His Own Attempt at Forming a Government

Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman is expected to ask for an opportunity to form a government himself, according to a report broadcast on Sunday evening, November 1. The reported plan would put forward another prospective candidate as the change-bloc parties struggle to agree on how to establish a government. The report did not announce that Liberman had submitted a request or received a mandate. The report described a growing assessment within the bloc that Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot would be unable to assemble a government, even if President Isaac Herzog gave him the first opportunity. It linked the possible Liberman move to those doubts and to the continuing difficulty of reaching agreements between the parties. Alongside the negotiations over government formation, most of the bloc's factions reportedly have an agreement in principle to advance the selection of a Knesset speaker and the establishment of its Arrangements Committee. The proposed parliamentary agenda also includes setting a date for another state-comptroller election and establishing a state commission of inquiry. Liberman reportedly does not share those understandings, and the identity of a proposed speaker remains unresolved. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly warned Likud colleagues that replacing the speaker would rule out a broad government. He was quoted as saying, “We will not join a broad government if they elect a Knesset speaker.” The account described legal obstacles to legislation unrelated to forming a government; it did not report an agreed governing coalition or a scheduled request by Liberman.