Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz said Monday that coalition talks with Likud were stuck and that his party was "keeping all options open."
On Sunday, Gantz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held their first meeting since the Blue and White leader was tasked with forming a coalition. While neither side reported any progress toward a unity government, they agreed to meet again.
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During a Blue and White faction meeting on Monday, Gantz said that while he is willing to meet with and listen to the small potential coalition partners, such as Labor and the Democratic Union, "We will not let them dictate the national agenda. The good option is still a unity government with Likud. The worst is an election."
If Gantz fails to form a government by Nov. 20, Israel may find itself facing an unprecedented third general election in one year.
Party co-leader Yair Lapid said Monday that "a government can be formed within 48 hours. All that Benjamin Netanyahu needs to do is accept a rotation deal where he is second."
As the party's race to form a government continues, much has been said on the possibility that he would form a minority government with the support of the Joint Arab List, including by chief Likud negotiator Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, who said that Blue and White "has not ruled out the option" of inviting the Arab party to join its government.
Nevertheless, there seems some mixed messaging within Blue and White regarding the possibility of a minority government.
On Sunday, Blue and White MK Chili Tropper told Army Radio that "Blue and White will not establish a minority government with the support of the Joint Arab List." But senior Blue and White MK Ofer Shelah later said that "the option of a minority government still exists. If we are faced with the horrific ramifications of a third election – a breakdown in democracy, no functioning government for a year and the loss of the public's trust in its leaders – all options are on the table."
Given the fact that there seems to be some controversy within the Blue and White party about this, coupled with the fact that Arab MKs are not supportive of the idea, it's not surprising that Gantz explored a minority government from a different angle.
He also has toyed with the option of a minority government that would include Blue and White and Labor (39 seats combined), along with New Right's three seats and 16 from the ultra-Orthodox parties. That would give him 58 seats. If Lieberman, who refuses to join a coalition with the ultra-Orthodox, abstains, that would enable this government to pass. However, both New Right and the ultra-Orthodox have refused the idea outright.
As such, it appears that the only option left for a minority government would be one that would need the support of the Arab parties.
Levin said Monday that a minority government with support of the Joint Arab List "would be extremely dangerous for the State of Israel" and needs to be "avoided at all costs."
"I asked at the beginning of the [Sunday morning coalition negotiation] meeting whether the negotiations we are currently conducting are genuine or a cover for other negotiations that are underway with [Joint Arab List leader] Ayman Odeh to form a minority government that relies on the Arab parties," Levin told Israel Radio. "I was told explicitly that they keep all their options open and do not rule out that option."
Levin said that Likud would not join such a government, and that he believes it would be toppled quickly if it succeeded in being formed at all.
He expressed his support for a unity government in which Benjamin Netanyahu, and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, both served as prime minister under a rotation agreement, but said such a government "does not leave out those who wear kippot or those who don't."
