Right-wing leaders revolt against President Rivlin's announcement that he will bypass PM Benjamin Netanyahu and give the Knesset a mandate to form the next government if Blue and White is unable to. Blue and White hoping negotiations will wrap up before midnight deadline.
Rivlin tells Blue and White, Likud they must ink deal within 48 hours, otherwise he will send the presidential mandate to Knesset. Move would trigger a 21-day period in which lawmakers can agree on PM or call early election.
Blue and White's leader, who faces a Monday deadline for reaching a deal, asks President Rivlin for a two-week extension as unity talks stall. “I believe that we are close to signing an agreement and that with additional time an agreement can be finalized,” he says.
Blue and White accuse Likud Minister Yariv Levin, who heads the ruling party's negotiations team, of "dragging Israel to another election."
The national-religious party lambasts Likud’s alleged intention to concede the Justice portfolio and control of the Judicial Selection Committee to Blue and White. “This is a total concession of the entire judicial system in exchange for a future promise of sovereignty,” Yamina official says.
After two weeks of negotiations, Likud has apparently resolved all outstanding issues with Blue and White. Parties are poised to announce draft deal to swear in a government, granting Netanyahu a fifth term in office.
Blue and White leaders accused of drawing out coalition talks in an attempt to force Israel to miss the boat on the "historic opportunity" to apply Israeli sovereignty to Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley.
Move signals a growing chance that Labor head Peretz and MK Itzik Shmuli will join the Likud-Blue and White unity government. Meretz: Peretz has betrayed voters, buried Labor.
The unprecedented political rollercoaster ride during the past 12 months means that the new unity government has a daunting task to carry out.
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman says that by joining PM Netanyahu, Resilience leader Benny Gantz “made a wrong move, if not a delusional one, I wish him luck – it’s his right to make mistakes.”
