Lieberman: We determined election agenda
After emerging as chairman of the third largest party, Yisrael Beitenu's Lieberman vows first order of business will be defeat of Hamas
Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman said that his party "had determined the agenda of this year's election" and expressed the desire to continue shaping the national agenda as part of the government.
After speaking with Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni and Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu, Lieberman addressed his supporters in Jerusalem, speaking of national values and objectives, and of the triumph of the right.
Addressing the fact that his party may be the deciding factor as to whether Livni or Netanyahuforms a coalition, he claimed that Yisrael Beiteinus "had determined the agenda of this year's election - citizenship and loyalty."
The party chairman said he believed that the primary debate within Israel was not about the nation's boundaries but rather its character. "I think that such a debate is one of the most important ones there is and it will determine the nature of this state as a Jewish, Zionist, and democratic state. It must be all three together," he said.
"We want a right-wing government," he added, stating that his primary objective was to influence any government of which he is a part is to defeat Hamas.
We will not have direct or indirect negotiations with them nor a ceasefire," he said. "It doesn't matter which government will be formed. If we will be in this government, the defeat of Hamas will be the foremost objective."
Despite these strong words in favor of the right and hawkish policy, Lieberman did not rule out the possibility of joining a coalition with Livni, saying, "We have not ruled out anyone. We will fight for our principles" within the government as we did in the state.
He, like his counterparts in other parties, touched upon problems of the elections process. "The results of the elections show once more the difficulty the political echelon has in coming to decisive results. There is no alternative but to change the system of government."
