Netanyahu: Hand extended for broad government, not with Ra'am

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the public Monday evening with a significant statement, declaring that "the public in Israel does not want a government dependent on Ra'am and the Joint List, parties that support terror and deny the existence of the Jewish state."

"From day one, our hand has been extended to form a broad national government," Netanyahu wrote. "A clear majority of the Jewish public chose Likud as the largest party and me as prime minister to lead the next government."

The prime minister added that "we aspire to form a broad government with our partners and with any party that wishes to do so and does not support terror. I am open to holding dialogue on the matter."

The appeal comes against the backdrop of the political deadlock created by the election results. According to the figures, the Netanyahu bloc stands at only 53 mandates, facing 48 mandates for the change bloc. The Arab parties, Ra'am with 8 mandates and the Joint List with 11 mandates, have become the decisive factor in the balance of power.

Meanwhile, Shas MKs Michael Malkieli and Yinon Azulai arrived this evening at the home of the elder of the Council of Torah Sages, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Maya zt"l, for consultation regarding the faction's recommendation to the president. According to reports, the MKs entered to receive instructions and guidance from the elder of the council, and are expected to consult with other members of the Council of Torah Sages as well.

As reported previously, HaRav Maya zt"l firmly denied in recent days rumors that circulated claiming he approved or addressed coalition negotiations with Gadi Eisenkot. "No one spoke to me a word about Gadi Eisenkot," the elder of the council told his family members. "I have not spoken with any party about the government since the results were published."

Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid responded to Netanyahu's remarks, stating that "there is only one reason Netanyahu and his emissaries are doing everything to undermine the election results: they lost." According to him, this is an attempt to cancel Israeli democracy, and "we will not let that happen."

Yashar! chairman Gadi Eisenkot also attacked Likud, stating that "Likud and Netanyahu are in a death struggle." Eisenkot claimed they continue with full force in a destructive and violent de-legitimization campaign against the election results and the Central Elections Committee. "This is a direct attack on Israeli democracy," he wrote.

President Yitzchak Herzog will begin the round of consultations with all factions elected to the Knesset this coming Wednesday. In an unusual move, the president decided that unlike in the past, this time he will begin the consultations specifically with the smaller factions and in ascending order of mandates. The first to arrive at the president's residence will be the Religious Zionism-Identity faction, followed by representatives of Shas.

The decision is intended to allow a broad examination of all options on the table before consultations are held with the larger factions. The president wishes to hear the positions of all factions and examine whether there are additional directions or alternatives that may help in forming consensus and assembling a government.