Ra’am leader said to tell Likud he won’t announce in advance whom he backs as PM

Ra’am chief Mansour Abbas has told Likud he won’t announce whom his Islamist party backs to form a government, the Walla news site reports, ahead of consultations with President Reuven Rivlin on which lawmaker should next be tasked with assembling a coalition.

“At the end of the round [of consultations] we’ll go with whoever has the most recommendations,” Abbas is quoted as saying.

The news site earlier reported that Likud was pressing Ra’am to back Bennett, as part of efforts to prevent Netanyahu’s rivals from forming a government without him. The reports come as Netanyahu’s mandate to form a government is set to expire at midnight.

Mansour Abbas, head of the Ra’am party, leads a faction meeting, in the Israeli parliament on April 19, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

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