Former PM Netanyahu says the only thing coalition members have in common "is hatred, exclusion, and dominance." Assuming the mantle of opposition leader, Netanyahu pledges to "save the State of Israel and the people of Israel."
In radio interview, Ta'al party chairman says senior coalition official called current political situation "hell." "We made it clear any vote from Ta'al would have a political price," Tibi says.
In Jerusalem's Old City, prominent religious Zionist rabbis pray to God not to let so-called "pro-change" government led by Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid "abandon the Land of Israel to the Arab takeover."
"This will be a government that works for the entire Israeli public – religious, secular, Haredi, Arabs – absolutely everyone, as one," Prime Minister-designate Naftali Bennett tells Israel Hayom.
The success of Mansour Abbas represents a catastrophe for powerful interests everywhere. It is to be expected that interested parties with the power to act will work to sabotage him at all costs.
Though in certain cases, parties have crossed the line when the other side's victory was inevitable or in a time of national crisis, Bennett is doing so when there is an absolute majority for the Right.
Several bills seek to limit the PM's term in office, rendering Netanyahu ineligible to vie for the position again. A growing number of frustrated Likud lawmakers no longer shy away from criticizing Netanyahu, with many saying the rise of the Center-Left government spells "the beginning of the end of the Netanyahu era."
High-ranking official in Likud says there is a "sense" that Yamina leader doesn't want to ink a deal and would prefer to form a unity government with Yair Lapid, with whom he met on Thursday for the first time since cutting off negotiations in mid-May.
Yesh Atid, Yisrael Beytenu complete negotiations: If Lapid forms government, Avigdor Lieberman will be finance minister, and Haredim will lose control of Knesset Finance Committee.
With just nine days remaining to Yair Lapid's mandate to form next government, Likud officials say there is still a chance Gideon Sa'ar, Bennett will join Netanyahu-led coalition.