In the current situation, as long as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands at the head of the Likud, the formation of a unity government is an especially remote possibility. If an exceptionally dramatic political move doesn’t happen, Israel is expected to head toward a third election within one year at the beginning of March 2020. But up to Nov. 15, all of those involved in coalition talks between the Likud and the Blue and White party believed that the formation of a unity government is near and all of the remaining obstacles could be overcome.

It was at the end of a week that included rocket fire from Islamic Jihad on Israeli cities following the killing of one of the organization’s leaders, Baha Abu al-Ata. When the cannons are blazing, internal divisions are forgotten. Knesset member and Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz had declared his full support for Netanyahu’s military moves on Nov. 13, although he made sure to keep this separate from politics in saying unequivocally that he supports a unity government. A day earlier, Netanyahu invited Gantz to a security update meeting and even held a similar meeting with Knesset member and chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee Gabi Ashkenazi of Blue and White. A political source said in a conversation with Al-Monitor that Ashkenazi was invited to the meeting with Netanyahu also because he was then seen as a force within Blue and White advocating for a unity government with Netanyahu.

After the September election, in an attempt to advance a unity government, President Reuven Rivlin suggested the incapacity plan according to which Netanyahu would declare incapacity if indicted and Gantz would fill his place. The plan also included a rotation between the two to lead the unity government. The president left the big question — that is, when exactly the period of incapacity would start — to be negotiated between the two sides.

Representatives of the Likud and Blue and White held negotiations, some unofficial and behind the scenes, moderated by Rivlin and an ultra-Orthodox political figure, and even reached some agreements. A senior source in Blue and White said at the time to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity: “The situation in the country is indeed very challenging, especially when it comes to security but also economically. Another election would cause a real crisis and a dangerous security deterioration. Without an ounce of cynicism, we can’t let it happen.”