Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu updated the heads of the right-wing bloc by phone following his Monday evening meeting with MK Benny Gantz of the Blue & White party and President Reuven Rivlin, at the president’s official residence. The met at the behest of the president towards advancing efforts to assemble a broad-based national unity coalition government. He assured the right-wing representatives that he remains true to his campaign promises, seeking to exhibit an air of optimism after the meeting with the president and MK Gantz.

Both Gantz and Netanyahu announced following the meeting that they insist on remaining at the helm of their lists, and that they are willing to enter into a coalition for as long as they serve as Prime Minister. Both assured their respective constituents that they would be serving at the head of the new coalition government, which at present, is not likely to become a new political entity in Israel.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)