2019 Election

Yisrael Beytenu head blames both Blue and White and Likud for what many consider a nightmare scenario

With members of right-wing bloc rejecting Benny Gantz's offers to meet for coalition talks, Likud officials call on Blue and White leader to work toward a unity government and avoid dragging the country into a third round of elections.

The Right has been consistent in its principles, whereas the Left – poised to move into power for the first time in a decade – is held together by nothing more than anti-Netanyahu sentiment.

PM: "I made every effort to bring Benny Gantz to the negotiating table, every effort to establish a broad national unity government, every effort to prevent another election. He simply refused." Gantz, whom Rivlin is now set to task with forming government, to likely face equally difficult task.

With Wednesday's deadline looming to form a government, New Right leader calls on allies to stand with PM to increase his negotiating power.

As chiefs of staff, Aryeh Deri says Blue and White party leaders know a strong government is needed to ensure Israel's security. "There is only one framework on the table, the president's framework. There is no other alternative other than an 'election disaster," he says.

Officials say it's hard to continue negotiations when the Likud insists on throwing up obstacles, such as the insistence that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu serve first in any rotation.

Likud allies stress that they will not turn their back on prime minister even if he fails to form government on the first go. Under Israeli law, Knesset will ultimately have 21 days to pick a designated prime minister as last-ditch effort before general election.

Gantz to Netanyahu: "I don't want to see you behind bars. I hope you are innocent, but we need a prime minister." Blue and White offers Netanyahu power-sharing deal if he leaves post for the next two years.