Bennett won't rule out unity with Netanyahu, party denies

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett told one of the change-bloc leaders in a closed conversation that he does not rule out a partnership with Likud, Channel 13 reported Tuesday evening. "I refuse to rule out unity, even with Benjamin Netanyahu," Bennett said, according to the report.

The statement came against the backdrop of questions among change-bloc leaders about how Bennett plans to form a government. While the plans of other bloc members, such as Gabi Eisenkot and Avigdor Lieberman, were clearer, Bennett's position had remained vague until the closed-door remark.

Bennett's party, "Together – led by Bennett," issued a sharp response to the report: "Netanyahu's divisive speech proves he cannot remain in office for even one more moment. Former prime minister Bennett will continue working to form a government led by Eisenkot as quickly as possible."

Yuval Shagev, who reported the item on Channel 13's main evening newscast, clarified that Bennett's remark in the closed conversation was made before Netanyahu's speech today, and that it did not refer to Netanyahu as someone who would head the government, so the statement does not contradict the official response from his party.

The remark joins a series of political developments unfolding in recent days. Political sources have been raising various scenarios for forming a government, with the central question being whether the chareidi parties will join a government led by Eisenkot.

It was also reported that Lieberman proposed to Degel HaTorah chairman Yaakov Asher that he sit down with Bennett and begin negotiations, in a gesture that reflected the dramatic rapprochement between the sides.

Shas, meanwhile, issued a formal statement making clear it will continue to stand with the right-wing bloc and Netanyahu. "Following various interviews and statements heard recently, we wish to clarify again: on the instruction of the Council of Torah Sages, Shas recommended to the president that Benjamin Netanyahu form the government, after he committed to pass the law regulating the status of yeshiva students. In light of this, Shas continues to support Netanyahu and is not conducting negotiations with any other party."

If Shas indeed stands by its commitment to the end, the implication is that Eisenkot does not have 61 mandates without abstention or outside support from the Joint List, a situation that raises many questions about his ability to form a stable government.