Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman anounced jointly Thursday that their parties, Likud and Israeli Beitenu, would run for election in January on one ticket. The united list expects increase its combined 42 Knesset seats out of 120. Netanyahu said the union would enhance Israel's ability to contend with external threats, especially a nuclear Iran and terrorism. Lieberman pledged to lower the cost of living and reform the system of government as top priorities. Their union caught the national political scene by surprise.