Likud denies it is seeking to bring Gantz or Lapid into coalition

Carrie Keller-Lynn is a former political and legal correspondent for The Times of Israel

Yair Lapid (L), Benny Gantz (C) and Benjamin Netanyahu (R) (Flash90)
Yair Lapid (L), Benny Gantz (C) and Benjamin Netanyahu (R) (Flash90)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party denies that it is exploring the possibility of adding centrist parties to its hardline right-wing government, just an hour after Netanyahu complied with court order to fire Shas leader Aryeh Deri from his cabinet.

“The reports that Netanyahu will contact Gantz or Lapid to join the government are an invention that never happened,” a statement from the Likud party reads, denying that National Unity’s Benny Gantz and Yesh Atid’s Yair Lapid are being sought for an alliance.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu established a right-wing government [to last] for four years — and so it will be,” the statement adds.

Most Popular
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.