Israeli Opposition MK Raises Prospects of Emergency Unity Gov’t

Jerusalem, 8 October, 2023 (TPS) -- Avigdor Liberman, leader of the opposition Israel Beitenu Party, raised the prospects of a national unity government for the duration of the Gaza war.

“If the Prime Minister, the Defense Minister and the Chief of Staff stand in front of the cameras and inform the people of Israel that the government has decided to eliminate the terrorist organization Hamas and all the terrorist leaders and will not settle for anything less than that, I will join a national emergency government without any conditions,” Liberman said on X, formerly Twitter.

“I understand that we have other challenges in the north against Hezbollah, hostages inside the Gaza Strip, the international community and many other challenges. We will know how to deal with everything at the same time. But the order of priorities must be clear – first of all, the elimination of Hamas and the leaders of Hamas,” he tweeted.

On Saturday night, Netanyahu invited opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz to join an emergency government following the deadliest terror attack in Israeli history. Hamas terrorists infiltrated several Israeli communities, taking at least 100 hostages back to Gaza. More than 600 people were killed in shootouts and rocket attacks and the death toll continues to climb.

Lapid responded that he would support the government during the war.

“At times like these, there is no opposition or coalition in Israel. We will give full backing to the security forces for a harsh response against terrorism and its proxies. Only in this way will we restore security to the residents of the south and to the rest of the country, and bring back the captives and the missing,” Lapid said.

In a swipe at Netanyahu’s coalition partners Lapid added that he is willing to join “a reduced, professional, emergency government” and described the current Cabinet as “extreme and dysfunctional.”

Gantz, who leads the National Unity party, said he is willing to join an emergency government on condition it “deal with security challenges alone.”