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Liberman says Israel’s people, not the U.S. president, choose its prime minister
Avigdor Liberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, alleged that U.S. President Donald Trump governs Israel through Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Liberman said the authority to choose the prime minister belongs to Israeli citizens.
Avigdor Liberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, alleged that U.S. President Donald Trump governs Israel through Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Liberman described Netanyahu as a puppet in Trump’s hands and said that the authority to determine Israel’s prime minister belongs to its citizens.
Liberman’s remarks on the radio Monday came after Trump announced that he supported Netanyahu in the elections scheduled for October 27. The Israeli politician expressed concern about the relationship between Trump and Netanyahu.
Liberman criticizes Trump-Netanyahu relationship
“Things are happening that we have never seen before,” Liberman said, recalling that Trump had previously said Netanyahu would not attack Beirut on his instructions and would do everything he was asked to do.
Liberman argued that Trump’s governing of Israel through Netanyahu was very convenient for the U.S. president and also addressed Trump’s warning against electing another prime minister. Liberman said he believed Trump had done a great deal for Israeli citizens, but that the final decision belonged to the Israeli people.
“The decision is ours”
Liberman said Israel was an independent and sovereign country and expressed the view that any leader elected could work effectively with Trump or another U.S. president. “It is not my job to explain what President Trump means. The decision is ours,” he said.
Some Israeli politicians and officials had previously criticized the Trump administration and its envoys over agreements with Iran and U.S. policies toward Lebanon and Gaza. Liberman also reiterated his opposition to forming a government dependent on the support of Arab parties to prevent Netanyahu from forming a government.
Trump backs Netanyahu
In a message to Israelis on Sunday, Trump announced his full and unequivocal support for Netanyahu’s reelection as prime minister. The U.S. president said that if another leader were elected, the United States might have to undertake the effort against Iran alone.
Trump had refrained from declaring his support for Netanyahu in previous weeks. In an interview at the beginning of October, the U.S. president said he was no longer interfering in Israeli politics.
Calculations over forming a government in parliament
Netanyahu is facing difficulties in forming a new government. Four current opinion polls showed that neither Netanyahu’s alliance nor the opposition had reached the 61 seats needed to form a government in the 120-seat parliament. Both sides refuse to form an alliance with Arab parties.
In remarks to the radio on Sunday, Netanyahu said he was not certain he would win the election. He alleged that if the opposition formed a government under Gadi Eisenkot’s leadership, concessions would be made on Iran’s nuclear program and the establishment of a Palestinian state would be allowed.
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