In a political bombshell that shook up the Israeli election campaign, prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced last night that his ruling Likud party would fight the election on a joint list with the far-right Yisrael Beiteinu party, headed by controversial foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman.
Israel’s Channel 2 reported that a secret clause in the merger deal allows Mr Lieberman to replace Mr Netanyahu as prime minister in the fourth year of the next term, assuming the new party forms the government – both parties denied that report.
The dramatic merger decision was made after secret negotiations between the two men. Senior officials in both parties were kept in the dark.
The united list is almost certain to be the biggest party by far in the next Knesset parliament following the January 22nd election, and ensure a third term as prime minister for Mr Netanyahu.
Announcing the decision at a joint news conference last night, Mr Netanyahu said unity would bring the country stability.
“The union between the Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu will allow us to protect Israel in the face of security threats and the power to make economic changes within the country.”
Most Likud ministers welcomed the deal, but not all.
One minister, Michael Eitan, said the union should be rejected. “If it happens, this agreement will eliminate the Likud and be a threat to Israeli democracy.”
The new party will be called Likud Beiteinu (Likud Our Home). Mr Netanyahu will head the list. Mr Lieberman will take the number two slot, and will probably be able to choose any portfolio.
The first 42 places on the list will be divided up according to the current Knesset representation – 27 for the Likud and 15 for Yisrael Beiteinu – but internal polls conducted ahead of the merger showed the new party had the potential to win an unprecedented 50 seats in the 120-seat Knesset.
There has been much speculation over recent weeks of a joint centre-left alliance emerging, but, despite last night’s bombshell, such a development looks unlikely. The leaders of the main left and centre parties have failed to agree on who should head such a list.
