Liberman urges caution on exit polls and calls for revolt inside Likud
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Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman said the final picture would only be clear on Friday, cast doubt on the early exit polls and called on Likud members to turn against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Avigdor Liberman, chairman of Yisrael Beytenu, spoke to his party after Tuesday night’s exit polls, saying the real outcome would become clear only early on Friday, when the special double-envelope ballots are counted. He said roughly 15 Knesset seats’ worth of votes have still not been counted and argued that the remaining results could still improve his party’s position.
Liberman said the special ballots, which include votes from soldiers and other voters using unique voting arrangements, are likely to weaken the relative strength of Arab and ultra-Orthodox parties. He told supporters to remain patient until the full results are known.
He sharply attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the prime minister “behaved today like the head of a criminal organization, crossing every red line.” Liberman also accused some media outlets and Netanyahu’s supporters of incitement, and promised to build a “Zionist coalition” to stop it.
"I received dozens of phone calls from Likud members," Liberman said. "This man must leave the stage, and anyone loyal to the path of Herzl, Trumpeldor and Jabotinsky must get rid of him. Raise the banner of revolt within Likud."
Liberman did not present detailed coalition plans, saying his party would wait for the official results before deciding its next steps. The speech ended with applause as the song “You Won’t Defeat Me” played.