In just 48 hours, Benny Gantz of the Blue & White Party will have to have formed a government, or return the mandate and possibly trigger elections for a third time. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an emergency summit of the 55 seats in the right-wing bloc, where Netanyahu blasted Yair Lapid and the idea of a minority government. Netanyahu said a minority government relient on Arab parties would be a “dream come true” for the terror groups Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as their sponsor Iran.

Defense Minister, Naftali Bennett as well as the leaders of the Chareidi parties took turns pledging their loyalty to remain a united bloc and reiterating their support behind Netanyahu.

Earlier on Monday, Netanyahu met with Chareidi party leaders, Ministers Aryeh Deri of Shas and Moshe Gafni and Yaakov Litzman of United Torah Judaism.

The purpose of the meeting was to clarify what the Chareidi parties are willing to compromise regarding religious issues in response to Avigdor Liberman’s demands.

ממשלת מיעוט שתלויה בתומכי טרור תהיה ממשלת החלומות של חמאס. אסור לתת לזה לקרות! pic.twitter.com/pcUs6wuLiU

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) November 18, 2019

Netanyahu met with Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman on Sunday and reportedly told the Chareidi parties that there was “a development” in his discussion with Liberman.

“It’s not possible for us to compromise on issues related to halacha [such as giyur and marriage] because we don’t have the authority to give up on anything related to Yahadus,” Shas and UTJ stated, adding that they are willing to consult rabbanim on religious issues not directly related to halacha [such as IDF recruitment and the Kosel].

According to a Chareidi source quoted by BeChadrei Chareidim, “It’s either compromising a little on these issues or hunger, [budget] cutbacks and other blows to everything valuable to the Chareidi community. We’ll ask the questions to the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah after we see a willingness from Liberman to reach a compromise.”

Netanyahu is expected to meet with Liberman again on Monday and then update him a possible compromise following consultation with the Chareidi parties.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)