The game of coalition chicken between the Likud and Blue and White will likely continue for the rest of this week, with Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting having been cancelled as each side digs in its heels over the state budget, with Blue and White insisting on a two-year budget, while the Likud wants a budget for one year only.
According to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, issued Saturday, "The cabinet meeting will not be held tomorrow [Sunday] because of Blue and White's refusal to discuss a proposed 8.5 billion-shekel [$2.5 billion] economic aid package from the prime minister and the finance minister, which includes assistance for at-risk sectors of the population.
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"The plan will create 10,000 new jobs. The plan allocates 700 million shekels [$20 million] for food security for impoverished families and 600 million shekels [$176 million] to extend grants for furloughed workers age 67 and over until June 2021.The Likud is asking Blue and White not to block the transfer of money to the citizens of Israel at a time when we are dealing with the coronavirus crisis," the party said.
Blue and White said in response that Sunday's cabinet meeting would not be held "in light of the Likud's insistence on not upholding the coalition agreement and approving the cabinet regulations, which ensure that the government will remain stable. This is not the first time the Likud hasn't kept its promises, and any other excuse is a lie to the Israeli public."
As the crisis deepens, a Likud official told an Army Radio reporter on Sunday that the coalition was "dying" and had "come to the end."
"The cooperation between Netanyahu and Gantz is over," the official said.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu has reportedly been floating the idea of establishing a narrow government without blue and White. Netanyahu has reportedly allowed some of his associates to start "sending out feelers" to potential coalition partners. Likud officials have already spoken to members of Yamina and approached Yisrael Beytenu, but thus far been turned down.
Sources in Yisrael Beytenu said that there was "no chance" they would join the coalition, a position echoed by Yamina.
Meanwhile, news broadcasts on Saturday evening reported that Immigration and Absorption Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata and Diaspora Affairs Minister Omer Yankelevich (both from Blue and White) both met with Netanyahu in recent days. The ministers said that the meetings had to do with issues in their offices, and that party leader Benny Gantz had been informed about them.
"There is no other speculation. I won't lend my hand to a narrow government," Tamano-Shata said.
Yankelevich tweeted that she had not met with Netanyahu personally, but rather attended a meeting with the prime minister, the National Security Council, and the corona cabinet … Enough with trying to spin routine work."
In an interview to Channel 12 News that ran on Saturday, Gantz stressed that he would insist on a two-year budget, despite Netanyhu and the Likud's demand for a state budget covering a single year.
"To stabilize the government, we need a two-year budget … All the top economists say that, so that's what we're insisting on. I won't give up on it," Gantz said.
The Blue and White leader added that there "might be" two people who wanted elections: Netanyahu and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid.
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Touching on his relationship with Netanyahu, Gantz said, "Our relations are very good. It's clear what we disagree on. Netanyahu is facing really, really big personal and legal challenges. He has to make calculations that I don't. I suppose he had personal and political reasons for wanting an election. Someone who cares about the country and what is happening here can't conclude that what we need is an election."
When asked about the public outrage against Netanyahu being expressed in the recent wave of protests, Gantz said, "I understand the hatred of Netanyahu. I understand the disappointment in me."
Likud MK Gideon Sa'ar, considered a major party rival of Netanyahu, also discussed the possibility of another election, calling it "insanity."
"Sixteen days are enough to find a solution to the budget issue, if they want my services, I'll be happy to help," Sa'ar said.
Sa'ar said that Netanyahu and Gantz were responsible for finding a solution, and that "political and coalition agreements must be honored."
Meanwhile, Army Radio revealed on Sunday recordings of Gantz speaking at a meeting with Blue and White activists in which he attacked Netanyahu's conduct. Gantz is heard saying that he himself "does not divide in order to rule, and does not drum up hatred to strengthen the base. Tell yourselves who does otherwise."
"I don't think it's okay for a prime minister to have three indictments. I said it, and I haven't changed my mind," Gantz says.
Sa'ar responded to Gantz's recorded comments, telling Army Radio that "It's inappropriate for a cabinet member to make comments like that, and they are inappropriate at such a sensitive time. Benny Gantz, 'People in glass houses ….'".
