As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition talks were coming up empty late Wednesday night, Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, former running mates with the New Right party, met in Tel Aviv to discuss their respective courses ahead of new elections.
Just days before the April 9 election, polls predicted that New Right would win as many as six Knesset seats, but the party failed to meet the minimum voting threshold and was knocked out of the 21st Knesset.
Bennett and Shaked were reported to have parted ways as a result of their stunning election defeat.
However, now that the Knesset is dissolved and a new election will be held on September 17, both are eligible to run.
In preparation for the upcoming election, meanwhile, Likud officials are already pressuring Netanyahu to reserve Shaked a top spot on the party's next Knesset ticket.
Shaked, for her part, is reportedly leaning toward accepting the offer.
Earlier rumors suggested Bennett had met with Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman to discuss the possibility of joining his party, though Bennett has denied these reports.
Parts of this article are reprinted with permission from JNS.org.
