After a week of keeping his cards very close to his chest, Israel Beiteinu
chairman Avigdor Lieberman on Thursday arrived at the President's Residence
announced that his party would endorse Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu for
prime minister. Lieberman, however, conditioned his recommendation on the
formation of a broad government that will include Kadima, but said that he
was opposed to a rotation at the helm of the government.
Lieberman said that he was opposed to the option of an "instable government
composed of 65 MKs from six parties.Both Netanyahu and [Kadima leader Tzipi]
Livni will be committed to constructing a foundation, drafting guidelines,
and agreeing on principles," Lieberman said. "Bibi needs to get used to talk
of a broad government and Tzipi needs to get used to the fact that there can
be no rotation, which contains an element of instability and has not proven
itself in past instances."
Lieberman reiterated that although "the rest of the factions are welcome to
join" he would be satisfied with a coalition made up of the 70 Knesset
members from Likud Kadima and Israel Beiteinu.
Earlier, Labor chairman Ehud Barak announced that his party would not
endorse any candidate for prime minister and would opt instead to head for
the opposition.
"The electorate has given the word," Barak said at the opening of a Labor
faction meeting. "The picture is complicated and disturbing when Israel
Beiteinu is the one to recommend who Israel's next prime minister will be.
We are left with only one option, and that is to decide not to recommend
anyone for the premiership."
