Yisrael Beiteinu unveiled its slate for the 26th Knesset on Sunday evening at an event at Expo Tel Aviv attended by more than 1,000 people, with party chairman Avigdor Liberman using the occasion to lay out his election agenda and launch a sharp attack on the Chareidi parties.

Liberman heads the list, followed in second place by Rafi Ben Shitrit, the former mayor of Beit She’an and a former Likud figure. Ben Shitrit is the father of Elroi Ben Shitrit Z”L, who served as a fighter in Combat Intelligence Collection Unit 414 and was killed in the battle at the Nahal Oz outpost during the October 7 massacre. He is also one of the founders of the October Council.

Retired Col. Talia Lankri was placed third. She previously served as deputy head of the National Security Council for counterterrorism policy, internal security and home-front affairs, and headed the NSC’s home-front division. She currently works as a consultant and lecturer in the field of national security.

MK Oded Forer was placed fourth and MK Yulia Malinovsky fifth. Sharon Sharabi, brother of Yossi Sharabi Z”L, who was murdered in Hamas captivity, and of captivity survivor Eli Sharabi, was placed sixth. Eli Sharabi’s wife, Lianne, and daughters, Noya and Yahel, were murdered in the October 7 massacre. Since the attack, Sharon Sharabi has been active in efforts to bring the hostages home.

Places seven through 10 went to MK Hamad Amar, MK Evgeny Sova, Lod Deputy Mayor Elvira Kolikhman and former MK Dan Illouz. Lili Ben Ami was placed 11th, Dr. Yael Benvenisti 12th, Metula Council head David Azoulai 13th, former MK Limor Magen Telem 14th, and reserve Capt. Israel Ben Shitrit 15th. Ben Shitrit, a reserve deputy company commander in the Alexandroni Brigade, was seriously wounded in fighting in Khan Younis after an encounter with terrorists.

Former MK Sharon Roffe Ofir was placed 16th, Mor Dekel 17th, attorney Michaela Levin Shamir 18th, retired Col. Olivia Rapovitz 19th, and reserve Maj. Yaakov “Yanky” Moses 20th. Moses is formerly Chareidi and volunteers with the Hillel organization, which assists people who leave the Chareidi community. The final five slots presented were Ami Kor at 21, Maya Flomboim at 22, attorney Eddie Mordechayev at 23, Michal Oron Azani at 24, and attorney Stav Boyangiu Matza at 25.

In his speech, Liberman took a hard line on the issue of Chareidi military service, declaring that he would not accept any framework that includes exemption quotas for yeshiva bochurim.

“I am not prepared to accept any wink toward Netanyahu and the Chareidi parties. Anyone talking about an exemption for 30% or for 4,500 yeshiva students is mistaken and misleading,” Liberman said. “The moment you agree to a certain exemption, what was is what will be. An argument over the numbers will begin, and then go establish an administration that will determine who is really learning Torah and who is not. Therefore, this will not happen. We will not lend a hand to such a thing.”

Liberman said one of the first measures his party would advance would be what he called a “draft law for everyone.”

“With us there will be no draft dodgers. Everyone will stand in line at the recruitment office,” he said.

“Every young person who reaches the age of 18 — Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze or Circassian — will report to the induction center, and the IDF will decide whom it drafts for military service and who goes to national service,” Liberman added.

He also pledged to require core curriculum studies in every educational institution that receives state funding.

“Every child whose education is funded by the State of Israel must receive the tools that will allow him to integrate into society and the workforce,” he said.

Liberman then sharpened his rhetoric against what he described as “Chareidi coercion.”

“We believe in a Jewish, Zionist and democratic state. We love Jewish tradition and Jewish values, but we will strongly oppose Chareidi coercion,” he said.

“We will not agree to allow the ‘Bnei Brak syndrome’ to spread throughout the country. Municipal councils will not be able to make decisions on separate sidewalks for women and men, and we will repeal the law on gender separation in academia,” he added.

Liberman also addressed Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot, saying there are significant differences between them over the strategy of their political bloc.

“I respect and appreciate Gadi Eisenkot. We worked together and knew how to get along, even when we had difficult disagreements. I will tell you something else: I have no ego. But at the same time, there is a significant gap between my approach and Gadi Eisenkot’s approach,” Liberman said.

“What I have seen over the past month is an increased effort by Gadi and his people to ensure that Yashar is the largest party. What interests me is bringing as many seats as possible to the bloc. It is not enough to be the largest party when the bloc as a whole does not have enough seats,” he added.

Liberman also outlined additional measures he intends to advance after the election, including establishing a state commission of inquiry into the events of October 7, limiting a prime minister to two terms, creating a national headquarters to combat organized crime, and establishing a constitution for Israel.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)