Likud claims Bennett reneged on deal to recommend he form government

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud party is continuing to lash out at Yamina leader Naftali Bennett, on whom it pins the blame for the premier’s failure to form a government ahead of last’s deadline.

A Likud source quoted by Hebrew media says there were “advanced contacts” for Netanyahu’s right-wing religious bloc to recommend Bennett be tasked with forming a government, if the Yamina chief were to pledge to forming a right-wing coalition.

The source claims, however, that Bennett got cold feet and refused to pen a letter pledging his personal commitment to a right-wing government.

“The widespread opinion in the political system today, on right and left, is that Bennett is deceiving everyone and playing on every field. You can’t believe a word that comes out of his mouth,” the source says.