Yamina leader Naftali Bennett has declared that he will do everything he can to see a right-wing government formed, but fellow members of the right-wing bloc are claiming that Bennett would not be sorry if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fails to form a government, which would pave the way for Bennett to form one with Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid and Gideon Sa'ar of New Hope.
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In a Whatsapp group used by heads of right-wing parties, Yamina treasurer Ariel Sela posted a clip from the Ulpan Shishi news show in which host Rina Matzliach claims fervently that the bloc comprising Lapid, Sa'ar, and Benny Gantz was effectively made up of right-wingers, and could not be called "left-wing."
Sela captioned the clip: "Great. Share," and the right-wing bloc is furious. Sources in the bloc told Israel Hayom: "Why is it important for an activist from Yamina, which like they claim wants to form a government with the Right, to send out a clip that says the other bloc isn't 'left-wing'? It looks like someone is preparing the ground to join them, and claim that it's not a left-wing bloc. There can be no other reason."
According to the sources, "If Naftali Bennett really wanted to form a right-wing government, he would announce that it's either a right-wing government or a fifth election, and then all the pressure would move to Sa'ar, Benny Gantz, or others. When Bennett leaves the door open, as he said in his meeting with Netanyahu, to join the other side if Netanyahu can't form a government, he gives them hope that another alternative exists. Bennett is not only not helping to form a government, he is trying to stop a right-wing government from being formed."
Yamina said in response to these claims that "On Sunday, talks between members of the bloc to find solutions continued, without any progress."
Meanwhile, the Religious Zionist list (made up of the National Union, Otzma Yehudit, and Noam parties) continued to insist they would oppose any cooperation with the Islamist Ra'am party. MK Itmar Ben-Gvir stated in a Twitter post that "A government supported by Mansour Abbas has no right to exist."
Ben-Gvir's fellow party member Avi Maoz, leader of Noam, said, "I will vote only for a government led by Benjamin Netanyahu, without a rotation and without a mutation."
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Maoz said there were two reasons for his position: "First, recognizing the good the prime minister has done working for the country, in stopping the COVID pandemic, and strengthening us diplomatically, economically, and in terms of security. Anyone who is ungrateful for the good his friend does ultimately is ungrateful for the good of a place. This is a major tenet of Judaism.
"Second, in the most direct expression of the will of the people expressed in the last election, only Netanyahu as head of the Likud won 25% of the votes! So no rotation, and no to another Likud MK forming the government," Maoz said.
On Sunday, Shas leader Arye Deri spoke to the Haredi radio station Radio Kol Chai and discussed attempts by the right-wing bloc to form a government.
"It's hard for me to see Bennett, Ayelet Shaked, and Zeev Elkin forming a government," Deri said. "Netanyahu will not pave the way for any left-wing government. They are planning a fully left-wing government. It's hard for me to believe they'll put all their right-wing ideology into it."
On Sunday, Israel Hayom reported that the right-wing bloc has made Deri responsible for on Sa'ar.
Deri said when interviewed that "Bennett demanding to be prime minister with seven mandates isn't democratic, it's a campaign. We have nine mandates, and we aren't asking for the prime minister's seat. It doesn't make sense. I'm in touch with Sa'ar, and I've spoken to him some, and he's a worthy man. I'll have more in-depth talks with him going forward."
"Bennett and Sa'ar's voters want a right-wing government. Most of the public decided they are in favor of a right-wing government," Deri said.
