The threat of early elections reared its head again Wednesday as Likud and Blue and White hit another impasse over the state budget.
The unity government partners have been locking horns over the question of whether to pass a one- or two-year budget for weeks. While they seemed to have reached a compromise on the issue last week, negotiations have again stalled.
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Under Israeli law, if a government is unable to pass the annual budget within 100 days of its formation the Knesset must dissolve and elections must be held.
The partners have until Monday night, Aug. 24, to either pass a state budget or pass a bill to delay the budget by 100 days.
A legislative proposal to that effect has already passed its first Knesset reading, but Likud has reportedly presented further demands to see it through its second and third votes.
While both parties have stated that they will make every effort to pass the budget and avoid elections, which would be Israel's fourth in two years, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly instructed Likud ministers to "act as if elections are a certainty."
Netanyahu has also ordered ministers to lambast Yamina leader Naftali Bennett, whose party has been rising steadily in the polls.
Voter surveys from earlier this week projected Yamina could win as many as 19 Knesset seats, potentially making it the second-largest faction parliament after Likud, which is projected to win 30 seats.
Blue and White leader Benny Gantz said Wednesday that "these are critical days for the coalition," adding that his party was making every effort to resolve the crisis.
Still, Blue and White, he stressed, will not compromise on its principles to do so.
"Netanyahu may lead to awful elections," he warned.
"Netanyahu is playing poker at the public's expense," he said. "Nothing justifies elections at this time."
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