Lieberman defends compromise on conscription law, says premiership is an option

Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman defended his willingness to compromise with Haredi parties on the conscription law, aiming to end Benjamin Netanyahu's rule. He ruled out a government with Ra'am and the Joint List, and said becoming prime minister is an option, not an obsession.

Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman today (Sunday) issued further remarks regarding the negotiations with the ultra-Orthodox parties and criticism of his willingness to compromise on the conscription law issue. Liberman explains that political reality requires flexibility in order to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to him, "willingness to compromise does not mean giving up values and principles," and he attacked his critics as "a parade of folly by a series of commentators, hired journalists, bots, and prejudiced people." Liberman clarified that he opposes forming a government relying on Ra'am and the Joint List, which he says identify with Hamas. He still supports a conscription law for everyone, but is willing to examine frameworks formulated in the past, including the bill he brought in 2018 and the Shkedi report. Regarding his political ambitions, he said: "The premiership is an option, not an obsession."