October 25, 2012
Netanyahu, Lieberman to merge party lists for election
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Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a joint news conference in Jerusalem on Oct. 25. Photo by REUTERS/Ammar Awad
The Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu parties will run in the upcoming Israeli elections on one list, ensuring that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu forms the next government.
Netanyahu, of Likud, and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman of Yisrael Beiteinu reportedly will announce the plan at a news conference Thursday. With the combination creating the largest list in the January elections, Netanyahu would be assured of forming the government.
The plan, reported by Israeli media outlets on Thursday, came after secret negotiations between Netanyahu and Lieberman, according to Ynet.
Talk of a unified centrist and left coalition to combat Netanyahu has been floated in recent days.
Likud's Central Committee is scheduled to ratify the plan on Tuesday, though it is expected that some senior party officials will oppose it.
