Senior officials in Blue and White hope that pre-indictment hearing on criminal cases involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will make negotiations about a rotation for prime minister irrelevant.
President tells Likud, Blue and White leaders: "People expect you to find a solution and to prevent further elections, even if it comes at a personal and even ideological cost. This is not the time to exclude people."
Trump administration officials familiar with American-Israeli relations say the political stalemate in Israel is leading to a significant missed opportunity from Israel's perspective. The officials further intimate that Israeli leaders need to take into account the unique opportunity provided by the Trump presidency, but refrain from saying so explicitly.
"A wide unity government is the only feasible option," Netanyahu says after he gets most recommendations to form government but not enough to break political impasse. Rivlin may ultimately choose Gantz to form government if Blue and White has a better shot at winning a confidence vote.
Yamina and United Torah Judaism representatives tell President Reuven Rivlin they want PM Benjamin Netanyahu to form the next government, giving him a 55-54 lead over rival Benny Gantz after Balad party reverses previous day's decision to back him. Yamina leader Ayelet Shaked: We won’t negotiate with Gantz.
Yisrael Beytenu leader refuses to recommend either candidate to President Reuven Rivlin, says: "For all I care, they could flip a coin" to determine who serves first as prime minister under a rotation deal in a broad unity government. Rivlin: It is up to the two biggest parties to join forces. This is what the people want. None of us can ignore that.
"We are ending Netanyahu’s grip on Israel," chairman of joint Arab List writes in The New York Times. Move could all but ensure Blue and White leader gets presidential mandate to form government.
In possible rift with Joint Arab List faction, Balad Chairman Jamal Zahalka cites Blue and White leader's right-wing views, willingness to enter a unity government with Likud. Joint Arab List to meet again Sunday in an effort to finalize "historic decision" over whether to recommend Gantz to the president.
Over the next few days and weeks, we can expect lots of posturing and horse-trading, but that won’t change the stubborn numbers.
No one wants a third election, but incredibly, it might be a better option for certain political figures than some of the scenarios for forming a coalition government.
