Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to establish a unity government, Dimona Mayor Benny Biton told Kan News on Sunday.
Biton, a close associate of the prime minister, said he spoke with President Isaac Herzog on Saturday and that he and US President Donald Trump would serve as guarantors for Yashar head Gadi Eisenkot to assure the opposition that a unity government would hold.
"I trust that the president of the State of Israel will guarantee this. But if you do not trust the president of the State of Israel, I also trust the president of the United States, the president of the world's greatest superpower," he said.
Biton also warned that the opposition's attempt to replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana before a coalition is established would be a "declaration of war.”
“There is no problem with agreeing on a Knesset speaker if it is done through mutual agreement among everyone. If they intend to make unilateral parliamentary moves, that is a red line," he said.
Likud tells opposition: ousting Ohana will end possibility of unity gov't
In addition to Biton’s message, the Likud party reportedly informed members of the opposition bloc that any move to replace the Knesset speaker with the support of Arab parties would undermine the possibility of forming a national unity government in the future.
"If there is no national unity government, we are heading for another election. Nothing will help anyone. Neither bloc will manage to form a government under any circumstances," Biton stressed.
He further insisted that even if the opposition succeeded in forming a government without Likud, it would be short-lived and “will not last or survive more than six months."