Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman
Foreign Minister Avigdor LibermanBen Kelmer/Flash 90

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman declared on Saturday that there is “no chance” that his Yisrael Beytenu will sit in the same coalition with the leftist Meretz party, thus significantly hurting Yitzhak Herzog’s chances of heading the next government.

"[Meretz chairwoman] Zehava Galon is out of the question. There's no common ground. There is no chance,” Liberman said in an interview with Channel 10 News, though he refused to say who he would recommend to head the next government.

"Guidelines are what will compel us. Will there be an eradication of Hamas? You cannot move forward with the peace process without removing [Palestinian Authority chairman] Abbas or eradicating Hamas," he clarified.

Liberman’s comments are significant as polls have been showing that even though Labor is winning more seats than Likud, Herzog will have a hard time forming a coalition without including both Meretz and Yisrael Beytenu. This, however, now seems unlikely happen in light of Liberman’s comments.

In Saturday’s interview, Liberman also spoke of the decision of Faina Kirschenbaum, who is the chief suspect in the corruption scandal involving his party, to exercise her right to remain silent in the investigation.

"I saw party leaders who are running for the Knesset who were questioned and remained silent. I spoke at each interrogation and I even enjoyed my conversations with the investigators. Far be it from me to judge others," he said.