If Lieberman wasn’t resistant to sitting with the religious parties, a right wing government of 64 could be formed.
Netanyahu has a few options. He can try to peel off some MKs from Labor, Democratic Union or Yisrael Beitenu to get himself a majority coalition.
Rabin did it in the 90s and faithless politicians could be found willing to betray their voters for a ministerial post and a lifetime pension.
The name of the game is power and nothing is being ruled out in forming a new government.
Which is why I’m surprised Netanyahu hasn’t screwed his coalition partners and gone unity, or Likud ditching Netanyahu to make a unity government.
All the minor parties could be frozen out and all the major players get a bigger piece of the pie.
Lieberman already folded once as I predicted ... twice will be no surprise ... as it will be no surprise when he agrees to YB sitting with the religious parties. Better to be Defense Minister and prosecute a Gaza Campaign than be frozen out with Benny.
Liberman is the white line down the middle of the road, but appears to have dealt himself out. The question is, was it on purpose, in an effort to push the two largest blocs into a deal? Someone is going to crack.
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Rivlin-Gantz-and-Netanyahu-meet-WATCH-602625#/
[snip] Lieberman, who holds right-wing views and has been supportive of Netanyahu for decades, told JNS that “the moment Netanyahu and Likud chose to close a deal with the ultra-Orthodox and messianic parties, we could not recommend Netanyahu for prime minister.” ... Lieberman explained to JNS that “the moment Benny Gantz chose to seek the support of the Joint Arab List, we could not recommend Gantz for prime minister.” [/snip]