The Blue & White party continues its efforts to form a coalition government as the clock on the presidential mandate continues winding down.

According to a KAN11 News report on Wednesday, MKs Yoel Hendel and Chili Tropper of Blue & White, met with the Chairman of the Bayit Yehudi party, Minister of Education Rabbi Rafi Peretz, seeking to bring him and his party into a Blue & White-led coalition. They reportedly told Peretz that he would continue serving in his current cabinet post. It was pointed out that initially, this coalition would not include the chareidim.

Rav Peretz declined the offer, reportedly telling them he remains loyal to the right-wing bloc, which includes Likud and the chareidi parties along with the parties which ran under the Yemina banner in the last Knesset election; Bayit Yehudi, Ichud Leumi and New Right.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)