Negotiations between Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing camp and Benny Gantz’s Blue and White bloc appeared to reach a deadlock.
However, a dramatic development took place on Monday evening as both sides met for six hours and seven other hours on Tuesday.
Afterward, they issued a joint statement saying they had made “significant progress.” The two are set to meet again with their negotiating teams on Wednesday evening.
Gantz’s 28-day mandate to put together a ruling coalition after last month’s inconclusive election was due to expire at Tuesday midnight, but President Reuven Rivlin, who is overseeing the coalition talks, extended it for two days.
Despite the positive atmosphere, both sides were keen to speak cautiously. A Likud source said negotiations are ongoing, while a Blue and White source ruled out reaching an agreement anytime soon.
According to other sources, they reached an agreement on the committee to appoint judges.
It was decided that the issues discussed by the committee shall be subject to a consensus between the Blue and White’s candidate, Avi Nissenkorn, who is supposed to be appointed Minister of Justice, and Likud’s candidate, sources noted.
They also agreed to dissolve the government and the Knesset and hold fourth Knesset elections in case the Supreme Court prevents Netanyahu from forming a government.
Sources pointed out that both sides agreed to postpone discussions over the annexation and imposition of sovereignty over Palestinian territories until summer.
Meanwhile, the Defense Minister’s far-right “New Right Party” has accused Netanyahu of betraying his allies, dividing the right-wing camp, giving in to Gantz and freezing the decision to impose Israeli sovereignty over settlements, the Jordan Valley, and the Northern Dead Sea.
It announced its withdrawal from the right-wing bloc that has supported Netanyahu throughout the last three electoral rounds.
In response to the New Right Party’s accusations, the Likud party said these statements are attempts to thwart the formation of an emergency government.
It affirmed Netanyahu’s adherence to the principles of the right-wing camp, foremost of which is the imposition of sovereignty.
