A meeting between Blue & White leader Benny Gantz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to formulate an agreement on a unity government between the two parties has ended with no agreements reached.
The two leaders are still at odds over the judicial appointments committee, according to reports.
Telem leader and former Blue & White #3 Moshe Ya'alon said he would not support tabling legislation that aims to disqualify Netanyahu from forming a government, saying the bills are merely a pressure tactic aimed at securing a final coalition deal between Blue & White and Likud.
Gantz, who is also interim Knesset speaker, has threatened to advance legislation that would prevent anyone that is facing criminal charges from forming a government on Monday - unless Netanyahu agrees to a coalition deal.
“These laws are too important to be used as a political game,” Ya’alon tweeted, addressing Gantz. “The only way is for you to stop negotiating with Netanyahu. You won’t use our votes to join a corrupt immunity government.”
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Moshe Ya'alon during a Tel Aviv rally on Sunday protesting the political deadlock
(Photo: Moti Kimchi )
On Sunday, in the latest move designed to pressure Netanyahu, Gantz had reportedly threatened to push for a reshuffle of the Knesset’s judicial appointments panel if talks fall apart.
Gantz warned that should the talks fail to yield a government and Israel would be forced into its fourth elections in 16 months, he would move up a vote on the key committee before the national vote ensuring a majority vote on legislation to block Netanyahu from seeking office in future elections.
Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman on Sunday urged Gantz to drop coalition talks and advance the anti-Netanyahu legislation.
In a Facebook post directed at Gantz on Sunday night, Liberman said the PM was stringing the Blue & White chair along in coalition talks and that legislation was the only way to prevent the Netanyahu from remaining as prime minister.
“Benny Gantz, this is your moment of truth. As someone who knows Netanyahu better than anyone, I can assume that he would not sign a coalition deal with you, not today and not tomorrow. Meanwhile, all he’s done is buy time,” Liberman wrote.