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🇮🇱 Israel /Elections & Politics

Liberman unveils Yisrael Beytenu election slate, with Rafi Ben Shitrit second and Sharon Sharabi sixth

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman announced a 25-candidate Knesset slate, with former Beit Shean mayor Rafi Ben Shitrit second and reserve officer Talya Lankri third.
  • Sharon Sharabi, whose brother Eli survived 491 days as a Hamas hostage and whose brother Yossi was killed in captivity, received sixth place.
  • The party is polling at about 10 seats and is seeking a Zionist, nationalist and liberal government that takes a tougher stance on security and haredi military conscription.

Avigdor Liberman has unveiled Yisrael Beytenu’s Knesset slate ahead of the deadline for submitting party lists before Israel’s October elections. The lineup puts former Beit Shean mayor Rafi Ben Shitrit second and reserve officer Talya Lankri third.

Current lawmakers Oded Forer and Yulia Malinovsky took fourth and fifth place. Sharon Sharabi received the sixth position. Sharabi is the brother of former Hamas hostage Eli Sharabi, who survived 491 days in captivity, and of Yossi Sharabi, who was killed while in Hamas custody. Eli’s wife and two daughters were also killed on October 7.

The remaining top positions went to current Yisrael Beytenu lawmakers Hamad Amar and Evgeny Sova, followed by Lod Deputy Mayor Elvira Kolihman. Dan Illouz, who entered the 25th Knesset as a Likud member, received tenth place. The full slate includes 25 candidates, while recent polling gives the party about 10 mandates.

The State of Israel cannot become a federation of religious and ethnic minorities, in which each group only cares for itself, and each party only cares for its base.

· Avigdor LibermanLiberman criticized what he described as factional politics in Israel.

“We need to win a clear and decisive victory, which will allow us to establish a Zionist, nationalist, and liberal government,” Liberman said. He said such a government should prioritize people who serve in the IDF, serve in the reserves, work and pay taxes.

Yisrael Beytenu is part of the opposition bloc seeking to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The party takes a hawkish position on security, calling for tougher action against Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. It also supports expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank, separating religion and state, and legislation ending exemptions from military service for haredim. Liberman has said those who evade service should be barred from receiving state financial assistance.

We need to win a clear and decisive victory, which will allow us to establish a Zionist, nationalist, and liberal government, which will prioritize the people who serve in the IDF, are in the reserves, work, and pay taxes.

· Avigdor LibermanHe outlined the government he wants to form after the election.
About this summary

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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