Likud, Blue and White reportedly nearing deal to further delay budget deadline

Sources connected to talks between the coalition’s Likud and Blue and White party tell the Ynet news site that they’re optimistic a deal can be reached to avert new elections.

The unnamed sources it is possible to quickly pass a budget that runs through the end of the month and then pass a budget for 2021 by the end of January. The deadline to pass a budget — or postpone doing so — is Tuesday night.

Both Channel 12 news and the Kan public broadcaster say the agreement would see the deadline to pass a budget further delayed.

Blue and White has insisted a budget that also covers next year be passed, as part of the coalition agreement between the parties, which included a loophole allowing Prime Minister Netanyahu to retain the premiership in the case of new elections.

The sources also reportedly claim that an agreement is possible on the rotation deal to guarantee that Defense Minister Benny Gantz will become prime minister next November as planned. Changing the deal, they say, would be difficult legally, and Blue and White is opposed to such alterations.

Channel 12 also reports on an emerging deal on the budget, but says the main sticking point remains Likud’s demands for greater powers over legal and judicial appointments.