MK Avigdor Lieberman, who was recently named the official leader of the National Union party, invited Binyamin Netanyahu to take his place and stand at the head of the "true right-wing party." The invitation came as Netanyahu supporters suffered another loss at a Likud convention last night, when their proposed method of choosing Knesset candidates was not even voted upon. This led some Likud voters to threaten to shift their support to Lieberman's National Union.
The National Union comprises three parties: that which used to be Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party; Moledet of Benny Elon; and Tekumah of Tzvi Hendel. Lieberman has long been a political ally of Netanyahu, even serving as his top aide during Netanyahu's term as Prime Minister. Despite this, Netanyahu turned down the offer, saying the Likud is his home. MK Michael Kleiner, who split off from the National Union two years ago and is hoping to garner the minimum amount of votes required for election to the Knesset, said that the new National Union is really "Likud B" and not a true right-wing alternative.
The National Union comprises three parties: that which used to be Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party; Moledet of Benny Elon; and Tekumah of Tzvi Hendel. Lieberman has long been a political ally of Netanyahu, even serving as his top aide during Netanyahu's term as Prime Minister. Despite this, Netanyahu turned down the offer, saying the Likud is his home. MK Michael Kleiner, who split off from the National Union two years ago and is hoping to garner the minimum amount of votes required for election to the Knesset, said that the new National Union is really "Likud B" and not a true right-wing alternative.