Senior members of Shas and Likud claim that Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman is working behind the scenes to block the entry of Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid into the next coalition, and has said in private conversations that he instead is trying to have Shas enter the coalition, according to Maariv.

"Lieberman pushes and persuades Prime Minister Netanyahu, to choose the hareidi option, in creating the next government," the officials told Maariv.