In what could signal a major shift for Blue and White, MK Moshe Ya'alon, No. 3 on the center-left list and leader of the Telem party, now supports the establishment of a minority government under Blue and White leader Benny Gantz with the support of 12 Joint Arab List MKs - excluding representatives of Balad, Haaretz reported Thursday.
According to the report, Ya'alon has voiced his support for the idea in meetings with the four top officials in Blue and White. Ya'alon's new stance opposes the positions of his Telem colleagues Zvi Hauser and Yoaz Hendel, who have rejected the idea of a government that depends on MKs from the Joint Arab List.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
The Blue and White leadership has been seriously considering the option of a minority government even since it became clear that a bloc comprising the center-left and the Arabs would secure 62 seats, compared to the 58 seats that the rival camp, comprised of the right-wing and haredi parties, has assembled.
At least in theory, this would allow for the establishment of a government comprised of 40 MKs from Blue and White, Labor-Gesher-Meretz, with support from Yisrael Beytenu and 12 out of the 15 Joint Arab List MKs.
Balad, the most politically extreme of the parties that make up the Joint Arab List, is unlikely to support any scenario of a "government of generals," which in any case would be unwilling to depend on Balad votes. Given the current distribution of seats, a government supported by 59 MKs, compared to the 58 the Right and the haredim have, is a possibility – if all the relevant potential partners can reach an agreement.
Blue and White declined to comment on the report and referred Israel Hayom to Ya'alon's staff, who also declined to respond to questions.
