There is nothing wrong with a unity government. In fact, given neither political bloc has an advantage in forming a coalition, it seems that is exactly what Israeli voters want, and they have sent their representatives a clear message: The blocs should join forces, because together, both Benjamins - Prime Minister Netanyahu and Blue and White party leader Gantz, have a combined 64 Knesset seats.
In principle, the Likud could repeat the move it carried out in 2003 when the Yisrael Be'aliyah party joined forces with it. Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert acted similarly in 2006 when the Pensioners Party joined with Kadima. If they are able to overcome the emotional difficulty inherent in such a move, it may also be possible to have the New Right join Likud, giving the newly formed alliance a one-seat lead over Blue and White.
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But for now, it seems the political system is busy with the formation of the government.
A simple political and mathematical calculation reveals the various possibilities for putting the pieces of this puzzle together that do not take into account the eight seats garnered by Yisrael Beytenu under the leadership of Avigdor Lieberman. And no, I am not talking about a coalition between Blue and White, Likud and the ultra-Orthodox parties.
You wanted a broad national unity government, or more precisely, a broad liberal national unity government? Here is the recipe for success: The two biggest parties – Likud and Blue and White, and Labor-Gesher and the New Right for a total of 73 Knesset seats. This would offer a classic unity government comprised of the economic Left and Right, along with a diplomatic Right, and a soft diplomatic Left. Such a coalition would be able to focus on issues of religion and state that arose during this last election campaign, for example the haredi draft law and the teaching of core subjects in ultra-Orthodox schools, without having to slam their heads against the wall or quibble with the haredim. This would be a coalition government without extremes – no haredim and no Lieberman.
And there is another option: a unity government that by definition is not liberal, meaning it does include haredi parties, but yet is still capable of promoting legislation that would lower the flames. This government would include the Likud, Blue and White, Labor-Gesher, Shas and New Right parties. From an economic perspective, this would be a more socially-minded government. It would also be a government that is prepared to pass legislation on matters concerning religion and state: Shas is not strongly opposed to the draft law and in the Shas- affiliated El Hamaayan school system, students are taught core subjects like math and English.
So, there you have it, two coalitions at the ready: a liberal national unity government and a unity government that includes a soft haredi component. The first with 73 Knesset seats, the second, between 79 and 82 seats.
And this is not an effort to spite Avigdor Lieberman. Although, as things stand, no prime minister can trust him. Netanyahu was burned by Lieberman in April, but Gantz, who has yet to undergo this baptism of fire, will also prefer to surround himself with partners of a more reliable and less capricious nature.
The choice, therefore, is not necessarily between a secular unity government comprising Blue and White, Likud, and Yisrael Beytenu, or a government comprised of the two largest parties in addition to the haredim. There is another option, in which Lieberman finds himself sitting with the opposition, alongside United Torah Judaism's Yakov Litzman and Yamina's Bezalel Smotrich, that is assuming they even agree to sit next to him in the Knesset.
A unity government could be formed in various combinations, none of which requires Yisrael Beytenu.
After all, who would want a volatile partner who has proven he can't be trusted?
