Lieberman 'not ruling out' electoral pact with Labour party

Israeli Foreign Minister and head of the right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party Avigdor Lieberman said Saturday that he does not rule out a coalition with either the Likud or the Labor parties, after the parliamentary elections slated for 17 March.

Lieberman stressed that he is "not ruling out Buji [Isaac Herzog of the Labor party] or Bibi [Netanyahu of the Likud]" for the upcoming coalition, Israeli website Ynet News quoted the right-wing politician as saying during a cultural event in Tel Aviv.

"My relationship with Bibi is not an idyllic relationship. We had arguments and will probably have more. But the approach according to which you rule someone out because of your personal relationship with them is wrong. We must be professional."

The latest Israeli opinion polls from Channel 10 indicate Netanyahu's Likud is neck and neck with a possible alliance between the centrist Labor and Hatnuah parties, which are headed by Herzog and former justice minister Tzipi Livni respectively.

Earlier this month, Netanyahu called for holding early elections, citing difficulties in leading the state with his outgoing government. HE dismissed two leading members of his cabinet – Livni and finance minister Yair Lapid – earlier, prompting the collapse of his coalition government. At the time, Netanyahu was widely tipped to win the snap vote by pollsters. 

Israel held its last general election in January of 2013, with elections in principle scheduled for every four years. 

Israel’s Labour Party on Wednesday announced it would be entering into an election pact with Tzipi Livni’s centrist Hatnua party, forming an electoral bloc against Israel’s “extreme right.”

Isaac Herzog, the Labour Party’s leader, stated at a press conference that, if elected, he would serve the first two years as Prime Minister and Livni the second two. Their new joint list will be named ‘HaMahaneh HaTzioni’ translating as “The Zionist Camp.”

“A year ago, I was elected as the chairman of the Labour Party for one cause, to be an alternative, to create an alternative, to replace the bad policy of this government in economical, security and diplomatic sectors,” Herzog told reporters.

He slammed current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his record in office.

“In every issue that you would point at, the country is going backwards.”

He said that he and Livni were “offering the citizens of Israel a new hope and a better future.”

The two leaders assured reporters that though they would be running on a joint list – using the slogan “Winning together, the Zionist Camp”- both parties would maintained their political independence.

Israel’s Labour Party on Wednesday announced it would be entering into an election pact with Tzipi Livni’s centrist Hatnua party, forming an electoral bloc against Israel’s “extreme right” a camp which many would argue Lieberman belongs to.

Isaac Herzog, the Labour Party’s leader, stated at a press conference that, if elected, he would serve the first two years as Prime Minister and Livni the second two. Their new joint list will be named ‘HaMahaneh HaTzioni’ translating as “The Zionist Camp.”

“A year ago, I was elected as the chairman of the Labour Party for one cause, to be an alternative, to create an alternative, to replace the bad policy of this government in economical, security and diplomatic sectors,” Herzog told reporters.

He slammed current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his record in office.

“In every issue that you would point at, the country is going backwards.”

He said that he and Livni were “offering the citizens of Israel a new hope and a better future.”

The two leaders assured reporters that though they would be running on a joint list – using the slogan “Winning together, the Zionist Camp”- both parties would maintained their political independence.