Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., February 08, 2009 Shvat 14, 5769 | | Israel Time: 02:04 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File

Elections 2009 / 'Lieberman is holding Netanyahu hostage' By Mazal Mualem Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu  With five days to go until the election, Likud and Kadima both admit Avigdor Lieberman will determine who forms the next government, assuming the polls predicting Yisrael Beiteinu will be the third largest party. Lieberman's meteoric rise and the narrowing gap between Likud and Kadima to a close battle, have transformed the sleepy 2009 race and made Lieberman into the critical axis, complicating coalition building. The next government will likely include Lieberman despite his extreme stance on Israeli Arabs and the criminal investigations. The only partner to officially rule out Lieberman as a coalition partner is Meretz. Labor lawmakers are battling party chair Ehud Barak, who refuses to publicly vow not to sit with Lieberman, as he understands that Likud chair Benjamin Netanyahu and Kadima chair Tzipi Livni will have a hard time giving up Lieberman, if the most recent polls prove true. Advertisement For this reason, Netanyahu is trying to embrace Lieberman and earlier this week promised he would be a senior cabinet minister in a Likud government. For this reason, Livni is not attacking Lieberman and her people mention the mutual civil agenda regarding civil unions and the system of government. Yisrael Beiteinu chair Avigdor Lieberman is careful to remain vague and has not promised - as did Shas chair Eli Yishai - to throw his weight behind Netanyahu after the election. He is not attacking Livni and Kadima even though he has enough ammunition to do so. Lieberman's behavior makes Netanyahu nervous. According to a senior Likud official, "Lieberman is holding Netanyahu hostage. He will decide who forms the next government. He holds all the cards." The same source said "Lieberman will prefer Netanyahu but will keep him on tenterhooks until the last minute in order to raise his price and demand more senior ministerial portfolios." If Netanyahu gets to form the next coalition, he will be in a problematic situation: on the one hand he is committed to Shas, on the other he will want Lieberman. They haven't ruled each other out as coalition partners, but Lieberman's civil agenda is in direct contradiction to Shas' platform. Lieberman plans to force civil unions on the next prime minister. Life will not be easy with Labor, the next partner, either. Netanyahu wants Barak as defense minister and Barak is interested, but senior Laborites will make trouble for such a partnership and will push to go into the opposition. Netanyahu can try to form a coalition: Likud, Kadima, Labor, Yisrael Beiteinu, Shas - it will be a broad but unstable coalition as Labor and Kadima wobble. If Livni puts together the next coalition, she will prefer Lieberman to Shas and bring in Likud and Labor as partners. According to a senior Kadima official, "if Lieberman is the third largest party, he cannot be ignored. He is legitimate because the public wants him in the government. He is a worthy partner." Related articles: Supreme Court overturns ban on Arab parties from national elections Voting among Israeli Arabs estimated to reach all-time low Knesset committee bans Arab parties from elections Bookmark to del.icio.us   Words of hope Hamas leader Zahar: Final word on Israel truce proposal soon. Iran talks Biden: U.S. will to talk to Iran and take action if necessary.   1.   The two men who will sink Israel. 06:30  |  Maureen Ann 06/02/09   2.   Good Luck Israel 06:40  |  Shimon Cleopas 06/02/09   3.   #1 Maureen Ann: Who`s choosing Netanyahu 08:33  |  George 06/02/09   4.   Kahane 08:41  |  Scott 06/02/09   5.   Lieberman has been Israel best kept secret for too long 09:11  |  Natallie Durson 06/02/09   6.   Check this man`s eyes and weep, Israel 09:27  |  Clickfool 06/02/09   7.   Why would Bibi want Barak as Defense Minister? 14:55  |  baffled 06/02/09   8.   Lieberman will be true face of Israel 00:09  |  Daniel 07/02/09   9.   Maureen Ann and Clickfool,friends of Israel.. 01:05  |  Absolute Sweden 07/02/09   10.   Curtains for Israel 01:22  |  Dan 07/02/09   11.   A.Lieberman is completely paranoic 02:40  |  hipolito 07/02/09   12.   Lieberman is Israel´s "Le Pen" 02:49  |  hipolito 07/02/09   13.   3- George 02:59  |  *BEN JABO 07/02/09   14.   Maureen Ann 04:47  |  George Kaplan 07/02/09   15.   was liebarman born in palastine or russia 06:47  |  billy jack 07/02/09   16.   Peace and prosperity not based on colonialist domination 08:48  |  Ivar 07/02/09   17.   #15 billy jack - If you`re going to write about 17:25  |  *BEN JABO 07/02/09

Read & React Israel deports passengers from impounded Gaza-bound ship Responses: 120 Haaretz poll: Kadima, Likud neck and neck Responses: 38 The philosopher who gave the IDF moral justification in Gaza Responses: 84 Turkey prosecutor to probe whether Gaza op was 'genocide' Responses: 68 UNRWA suspends Gaza aid after Hamas steals food and supplies Responses: 147 More Headlines 01:47 Shas' Rabbi Yosef: Voting for Lieberman gives strength to Satan 00:51 Palestinian PM: No Israeli leader has 'reasonable solution' to conflict 00:59 Noam Shalit: Hard to believe there is a deal on Gilad 22:40 Report: Iran behind attempt to funnel millions of dollars into Gaza from Egypt 20:18 Hamas leader Zahar: Final word on Israel truce proposal soon 18:17 UN: Cargo of Iranian ship seized en route to Gaza violates resolution 1747 14:38 Biden: U.S. will to talk to Iran, will act if necessary 19:14 World Jewish Congress asks Venezuela to protect Jewish community 17:24 Palestinian Authority: Hamas used Gaza hospitals as detention centers 14:53 Lieberman's anti-Arab ideology wins over Israel's teens 14:56 Report: Bishop who denied Holocaust to examine evidence on Nazi killings 14:33 ADL head decries 'pandemic of anti-Semitism' following Gaza offensive 16:47 Iran: Nuclear and space technological progress reached under sanctions 17:27 UNRWA suspends Gaza aid after Hamas steals food and supplies 01:50 IAF strikes south Gaza targets after two rockets hit Israel Previous Editions Select Day 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb 02 feb 01 feb 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 26 jan 25 jan

Special Offers Advertisement Summer in Israel Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009 Passover Vacations The BEST Passover Vacations around ? Mexico, Arizona and Florida Blue And White Forever Israel Army T-shirts Wear with Proud Donate the Soldiers Kit You can make a direct IMPACT! on the life of an Israeli soldier State of Israel Bonds During this time of market volatility, Israel bonds can help. SURF RAMBAM Keep current about new-wave medical care, education and research. Camp Kimama Israel 2009 The best place for your children this summer Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results

Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved