Ever since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was tapped to form the next government, Blue and White was waiting for one thing – for him to fail and for the mandate to pass to Blue and White leader Benny Gantz.
Associates of Gantz told Israel Hayom on Tuesday that "Gantz will be prime minister. The only question is what price he is willing to pay."
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Meanwhile, Blue and White officials adopted a less strident tone against Netanyahu on Tuesday.
One senior party official said, "Gantz never said he wouldn't sit with Netanyahu. He just said he wouldn't sit with Netanyahu if he [Netanyahu] was indicted. He understands that, at the end of the day, he needs Netanyahu to avoid a third election. Now, with the mandate in Gantz's hands, Netanyahu should approach him and not the opposite."
Blue and White has been biding its time to see what, if anything, resulted from Netanyahu's pre-indictment hearing, held at the beginning of October. Over the past few days, the party's spirits have lifted.
"Now the Likud should approach us … we have the power," Blue and White officials were saying.
When asked why they were so sure a government was about to be formed, they said, "There is an advantage in being second to receive [the mandate] to form a government. Netanyahu failed, and the parties will eventually have to be satisfied with joining a government under Blue and White to avoid a third election."
However, Blue and White is still worried about Yisrael Beytenu Avigdor Lieberman, who is widely seen as having the power to tip the scales on whether a government will be formed or not.
"Lieberman is not a stable person and we can't foresee his moves," a Blue and White official told Israel Hayom.
"With him, you never know anything and everything can turn around in seconds. We're trying to build on him as little as possible," the official said.
