Lieberman refusal to reveal his recommendation for PM infuriates colleagues

Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman's refusal to reveal whom he intends to recommend as the next prime minister is infuriating some of his party's field activists, many of whom are former Likud members.

"Everyone who supported Lieberman among the rightist Mizrahi public did so because they were certain he would go with [Likud chairman Benjamin] Netanyahu and help him to become prime minister," said Oved Hugi of Yad Eliyahu, a former Likud supporter who campaigned for Yisrael Beiteinu this time around. Mizrahim are Jews of Middle Eastern origin.

Hugi joined the Lieberman campaign mainly because of Uzi Landau, a former Likud Knesset member who was No. 2 on Yisrael Beiteinu's list. He therefore focused on persuading other former Likud supporters to join him in this switch.

"I persuaded many such people to vote for Lieberman, because it was clear to me that he would support Bibi [Netanyahu] - and to them as well," Hugi said. "No one thought he would suddenly start helping [Kadima chairwoman] Tzipi Livni. If this happens, it will be nothing less than betrayal."

Hugi is not the only Yisrael Beiteinu activist to feel this way. Another former Likud member who now heads one of Yisrael Beiteinu's local chapters said, "It seems irrational to me that Lieberman would betray Bibi. I'm almost certain he'll recommend him. But all these games are unnecessary. And if, heaven forbid, he does not recommend Bibi, it will be a crisis for us."

A Likud mayor who is close to Lieberman warned that if Lieberman spoiled Netanyahu's efforts to form a government, "it will come back to haunt him next time. Eighty percent of Yisrael Beiteinu's voters would have voted for Bibi if there were two ballots," one for Knesset and one for prime minister. "Lieberman knows this, and therefore, I think he's just trying to raise his price."