Blue and White Party leader Benny Gantz said on Monday that “unfortunately no tangible progress was made” in coalition talks with Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu at their Sunday meeting.
While Gantz called the meeting “businesslike,” he insinuated that Netanyahu was attempting to “dictate the entire public agenda.”
Blue and White No. 2 Yair Lapid also accused Netanyahu of posturing during his mandate. “It is possible to form a government within 48 hours,” he said. “All that Benjamin Netanyahu needs to do is agree to be second in a rotation agreement.”
Netanyahu passed his mandate to form a coalition back to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Oct. 21 after failing to assemble a majority government.
Their sit-down early this week represents the first meeting between the two since Rivlin passed the mandate to Gantz.
Likud and Blue and White have each accused the other of pushing the country toward a third election.
“We will continue to talk to everyone and listen to the small parties,” said Gantz on Monday, adding that Blue and White would be meeting with Joint List head Ayman Odeh on Thursday in Tel Aviv.
On Monday, Gantz met with Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman for the first time since the mandate transfer.
