Naftali Bennett, chairman of the Beyachad party, has told leaders of the parties in the change bloc that the political situation requires them to seriously consider forming a unity government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Channel 12 News reporter Dafna Liel reported on Sunday evening.
Coalition Talks Heat Up
Report: Bennett Eyes Unity With Netanyahu
According to Channel 12, the Beyachad leader told change bloc party heads that the political situation requires seriously considering a unity government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with Gadi Eisenkot serving first as prime minister.
According to the report, the arrangement Bennett described would have Yashar! party chairman MK Gadi Eisenkot serve first as prime minister in a rotation agreement.
The report comes amid accelerating political contacts over the formation of the next coalition. Earlier on Sunday, there were reports of negotiating meetings between Likud representatives and representatives of Eisenkot and Bennett. During those meetings, Likud asked that no boycotts be imposed on parties within its bloc.
Bennett's reported call to examine cooperation with Netanyahu comes in the middle of a sharp public dispute within the change bloc over how a government might be formed. Some figures in the bloc are exploring the feasibility of negotiating with the chareidi parties as an alternative to sitting with Netanyahu. Other partners flatly rule out any alliance with the prime minister.
Earlier on Sunday, MK Yulia Malinovsky of Yisrael Beytenu said her party firmly opposes a unity government with Netanyahu and Likud. She also ruled out relying on the Arab parties.
The Democrats chairman MK Yair Golan likewise rejected the option of sitting with Netanyahu. Unlike Malinovsky, however, he called on the bloc's leaders to consider cooperating with the Arab factions.
