Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman posted a video on social media Wednesday in which he repeated his commitment to fight for IDF soldiers and reservists, after reports that his party has been in contact with chareidi factions and that he has ruled out relying on Arab parties in any coalition.
Israeli Politics
Liberman vows loyalty to IDF after talk of chareidi outreach
Yisrael Beiteinu chairman says we will not give up our principles and promises to keep fighting for soldiers and reservists, after reports he has been in contact with chareidi factions
"I am not giving up on principles, and not on our worldview," Liberman said in the video. "We will act with all our strength to improve the status of those who serve, regular soldiers, career officers and reservists. Both to improve their status and to improve their conditions of service and everything that goes with it."
Liberman acknowledged that his party had campaigned on a maximalist draft law and had expected a large majority in the country. "I believed we could form a government of 61," he said. "We got only 48 and had to reassess. We talked about a draft law in a maximalist model. Today it is clear we will have to go with a different model that passes the High Court test. This is the best model that can be implemented."
In a post accompanying the video, Liberman wrote: "We will continue to act with all our strength for those who serve, regular soldiers, reservists and career officers. We will not give up our principles!"
Liberman's statement came after Naftali Bennett submitted a bill Wednesday morning," which expands benefits for reservists and discharged soldiers by changing the criteria for funding households that do not participate in military service or employment.
