Israel has been a leader among Western
countries because of the fundamental partnership between Yisrael Beytenu
and Likud, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday at a press
conference with Russian media in Jerusalem.
"The connection with [Yisrael Beytenu chairman
Avigdor] Lieberman goes back years. We share the same beliefs in the way
we deal with challenges," Netanyahu said of the union between Likud and Yisrael
Beytenu.
He added, "Israel has been a leader among
Western countries, including in economic terms. How did we manage to do
this? Because there was a fundamental partnership between Yisrael
Beytenu and Likud. This is the reason that we decided to officially team
up now. In terms of security and the economy and the advancement of
other reforms — this necessitates a union of parties."
"We are talking about collaboration on the
highest level. We are combining our forces together to give security and
hope based on strength and experience, and this union is a winning
formula," the prime minister said.
Lieberman echoed the prime minister's
comments, saying, "Without our agreement to share the premiership, all
of the government's potential achievements could not happen. We
represent more Knesset members and ministers from the former USSR. We
have proven ourselves"
"The common denominator between us and the
Likud is based on Jabotinsky's legacy. In the leftist camp, there is no
common denominator. What do Tzipi Livni and Yachimovich have in common?"
Lieberman said.
