Negotiations seeking to hammer out a national unity government continued overnight Thursday, with no real results.
A joint statement issued by Likud and Blue and White said that "talks are scheduled to resume on Friday."
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A Blue and White official said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had "taken over the talks completely," adding hat Blue and White leader Benny Gantz "isn't going to bother with meetings unless significant progress is made."
Talks between Likud and Blue and White continue despite President Reuven Rivlin's decision to task the Knesset with naming a prime minister.
The move came after Gantz, who Rivlin tapped to form a government following the March 2 elections, failed to form a coalition in the time allotted and fared no better given an extension.
Rivlin's call to parliament to take over the process bypassed Netanyahu.
Parliament will now have 21 days for a majority of Knesset members to request, in writing, that the president tap another, agreed-upon lawmaker, to form the government – or call an election.
Should the Knesset fail to agree on a candidate by the May 7 deadline, Rivlin has set Aug. 4 as the date for Israel's fourth general election in just over a year – a move many in the political system have deemed "unthinkable."
But insiders privy to the negotiations told Israel Hayom that the distrust between the rival parties runs deep, meaning that currently, the talks are bogged down by the smallest of details.
Negotiations between the two parties have also staled over the Likud's demands to pass legislation that would prevent the High Court of Justice to weigh in on Netanyahu's ability to serve as prime minister given that he currently faces corruption charges in three different cases.
Rivlin's presumed date for a fourth election allows for a three-month campaign.
Also on Thursday, Gantz, who is the acting Knesset speaker, informed his faction that he plans to fully activate the Knesset next week.
Blue and White said in plans to advance legislation that would bar an MK under indictment from serving as prime minister, and prevent anyone serving more than two terms as prime minister.
The bill remains one of the sticking points preventing the completion of the unity government negotiations.
