Yisrael Beytenu's Avigdor Lieberman was not in good spirits Wednesday afternoon when he predicted that Israel was likely on its way to a third election, just two months after Israelis went to the polls in what was in an of itself a revote.
Speaking at a press conference, Lieberman ruled out joining in a narrow right-wing government or a minority government and said both Likud and Blue and White were to blame for this impasse.
"We won't enter a government-backed directly or indirectly by the Joint List," he said. "We are now on a sure path toward another election."
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He blasted both the Joint Arab List and ultra-Orthodox parties for being "anti-Zionist" and posing a direct threat to Israel's security.
Lieberman also slammed the Likud for giving in to ultra-Orthodox demands and said he would no longer allow the country to be "extorted" by religious parties.
However, he said, anything can still happen in the next 24 hours.
"Who knows what will happen tonight," he said. "Maybe we'll all be smarter in the morning."
Lieberman revealed that he turned down enticing offers by Likud and Blue and White, but ultimately, had to do what he thought was in the best interest of the country.
He called for the country to undergo many electoral reforms, including adopting a law mandating that every citizen vote (like Australia) and urged Zionist parties to come to some sort of consensus on religion and state issues.
Gantz's mandate to present a government was to elapse on midnight, Wednesday. Barring a surprising shift by the Yisrael Beytenu leader, whose push for a national unity government has vested his party with the power to decide the fate of the next government, Gantz is expected to return the mandate to President Reuven Rivlin. Once he does that the Knesset has 21 days to rally behind a would-be prime minister, or else, another election is called.
No progress was made on Tuesday in the coalition negotiations as Blue and White leader Benny Gantz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met for a last-ditch effort to cobble together Israel's next coalition. Sources privy to the meeting said the discussions lasted for about an hour and ended with no apparent resolution to the crisis gripping Israeli politics.
Netanyahu and Gantz traded barbed on Tuesday night, accusing each other of undermining the chances of forming a unity government.
Sources in Blue and White said Tuesday that all options remained viable, including the formation of a minority government with the outside support of the Joint Arab List.
In a statement released late on Tuesday night, Gantz said he would "continue to make every effort and turn every stone to try to reach understandings and form a government even in the remaining time, in order to prevent costly and unnecessary elections that are contrary to the will of the citizens of Israel."
