Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman said on Monday that he will recommend Yashar! chairman Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government, and made clear that no offer from Prime Minister Netanyahu would change his position.

“Even if he offers me a rotation and I’m first – it won’t happen,” Lieberman said in his first public interview since the polls closed, adding that he will not sit with Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Lieberman said Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana must be replaced immediately, and that he backs Yair Lapid for the post. “Yachad is the second-largest party,” he said, adding that Lapid is “much more experienced.” He did not demand the post for his party’s MK Oded Forer.

At the same time, Lieberman ruled out a minority government. He said he had told Eisenkot so “in four eyes,” and warned that a minority government would survive much less than a year, after which Prime Minister Netanyahu would return with 70 seats.

He said the campaign around a possible minority government cost the opposition seven to eight seats in the final ten days of the race, and called the opposition’s 48 seats a “searing failure.” He said Prime Minister Netanyahu’s bloc dropped from 64 seats to 53.

Lieberman said repeat elections would be the “worst option,” and that the ideal outcome is a Zionist coalition that includes the Likud without Prime Minister Netanyahu. He said Eisenkot may be able to split the Likud, and said Prime Minister Netanyahu is “not fit, including physically.”

Asked about the Chareidi parties, Lieberman said: “I enjoy what’s happening there. Aryeh Deri doesn’t answer Bibi, and UTJ isn’t committed to Netanyahu.” He said he has not spoken with Deri, adding, “we’ll see.” He also said a draft law is “not realistic in the current situation.”

Lieberman said that once the Knesset convenes, the opposition will set up an Arrangements Committee, along with the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and the Finance Committee. He said establishing a state commission of inquiry would be complicated under a transitional government.

Turning to the election interference affair, Lieberman claimed the Palestinian Authority “meddled” in Ra’am and the Joint List, and said: “Ask Yonatan Urich how Qatari money passes.” He said fewer than 14 percent of Arab voters cast ballots for Zionist parties.

Lieberman said the heads of the opposition parties will meet on Tuesday. He also said he would not support Prime Minister Netanyahu for president.

“Leave me someone for the next faction meeting,” Lieberman quipped, saying he remains optimistic.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)