Netanyahu Openly Calling on Lieberman to Join Government

The Jewish Press reports: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been engaged through proxies in a long and seemingly failed negotiation with Zionist Camp Chairman (for now) Itzhak Herzog, declared during his weekly cabinet meeting that he intends to “publicly call on (Israel Beiteinu Chairman MK) Lieberman to join the government.”

Netanyahu added that, as a signing bonus, he would promote a solution for the pensions of newcomers from Russia, Liberman’s base constituency. Netanyahu sounded optimistic, according to Israeli media outlets, about his ability to get Lieberman, his closest coalition partner for most of the 19th Knesset, to join up. He also said the chances for the Zionist Camp joining are low at this point.

Lieberman quickly responded to Netanyahu’s invite on his Facebook page, calling it a spin. He added that Netanyahu has been conducting his flirtation with Zionist Camp leading MKs Herzog and Livni “in direct contradiction of what he promised during the election campaign,” and that “Netanyahu’s government is not rightwing.”