Avigdor Liberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, called on several smaller party leaders to withdraw from Israel's upcoming Knesset elections on Tuesday, warning that their campaigns are doomed to fail and could result in wasted votes.
Speaking to Radio 103FM, Liberman specifically addressed Chili Tropper, Yoaz Hendel, Gilad Erdan, Yuli Edelstein, and Benny Gantz, all of whom are leading parties or lists that recent polls suggest will not cross the electoral threshold required to enter the Knesset. "Chili Tropper and Yoaz Hendel had opportunities to join existing parties," Liberman said. "They have no chance, not Benny Gantz, not Gilad and Yuli, and not Yoaz and Chili."
Liberman argued that the insistence of these smaller parties to continue their campaigns despite polling below the threshold could lead to a critical loss of votes. He attributed their persistence to "personal ambitions" rather than political viability. "We are open, we are listening, and I suggest they don't do something foolish," he said.
Liberman also commented on the recent Likud primary results, claiming that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has assembled what he called "the draft-dodgers alliance" with figures like Goldknopf and Aryeh Deri. "Today's Likud is Haredi-lite," Liberman said, referring to ultra-Orthodox influence. He suggested that ultra-Orthodox groups who don't typically vote Likud in general elections influenced the primary outcome. "Netanyahu built this list knowing he's going to lose, he wants to make sure an opposition can't form against him within the faction," Liberman claimed.
