Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the chairman of the Yisrael Beitenu party, MK Avigdor Lieberman, met on Tuesday morning for a final time before the presidential mandate to form a coalition government expires on Wednesday. After the meeting, it was announced that efforts will continue to form a coalition government.

While the official message speaks of “ongoing efforts to form a national unity coalition government”, it is believed that in reality, Netanyahu is working hard to bring Lieberman back to the right-wing camp, as Mr. Netanyahu is well-aware that Lieberman holds the key to Blue & White party Chairman MK Benny Gantz forming a minority government supported by the Joint Arab List from the opposition.

On Tuesday evening, another meeting was planned between the prime minister and President Reuven Rivlin as the prime minister asked to be included in the meeting in which President Rivlin will meet with heads of the coalition negotiating teams.

The right-wing bloc, which includes Likud, Bayit Yehudi, New Right and the chareidi parties, are concerned that Gantz may opt to form a government of less than 61, a so-called minority government, which would enjoy the backing of the Joint Arab List from the benches of the opposition, all to unseat PM Netanyahu.

President Reuven Rivlin calls on Likud and Blue & White to find a solution towards establishing a coalition government and to avoid a third round of elections.

With the deadline for the presidential mandate to form a coalition government ending on Wednesday, Netanyahu will also be meeting with Blue & White party Chairman MK Benny Gantz and President Reuven Rivlin before the mandate expires.

Prime Minister Netanyahu invited Gantz to a meeting, just the two of them, scheduled to take place on Tuesday night at 10:00PM.

It is opined the meeting will be a final effort to reach agreement between the two to establish a national unity coalition government.

Earlier in the night, a joint meeting will take place between the prime minister and heads of the chareidi parties; Deputy Minister Yaakov Litzman, Minister Aryeh Deri and MK Moshe Gafne. At that time, Mr. Netanyahu is expected to update the three on the details of the meeting that took place earlier in the day between him and MK Avigdor Lieberman, the chairman of the Yisrael Beitenu party.

In a most relevant matter, Agudas Yisrael on Tuesday signaled a willingness to accept a compromise regarding the draft bill, the very bill that compelled PM Netanyahu to dissolve the 21st Knesset, leading to elections. This was followed by elections for the 22nd Knesset, and if negotiations fail, may lead to elections for the 23rd Knesset as efforts to form a government have failed to date.

The same is true with Shas, as the sephardi chareidi party is well-aware that leading the nation to yet another round of elections will be most costly for the nation. In addition, recent polls show the chareidi parties will lose three seats if another round of voting is compelled.

Elections for 21st Knesset were held in April 2019, and it lasted for five months while there was a transitional government, as is the case today. The election for 22nd Knesset took place on September 17, 2019. It is entirely possible that elections for 23rd Knesset will take place immediately following Purim, while a transitional government continues.

If the scheduled meetings fail to bear fruit, it is most unlikely that a coalition will be formed in time and the presidential mandate will have to be returned to President Rivlin on Wednesday night. That is of course assuming Gantz will not agree to a minority coalition with support of the Joint Arab List from the benches of the opposition.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)