In the wake of the Iran nuclear deal, the impetus and motivation for a unity government has grown significantly, officials have estimated.
According to a report in Haaretz Thursday, there has been significant communication between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Yitzhak Herzog to bring the latter's Zionist Union party into the government.
According to the report, both have been communicating through messages and notes passed to each other – via President Reuven Rivlin.
A source in the Likud told Haaretz that the time had come for a unity government.
“Especially given the Iran situation, Herzog realizes the world is looking at us for unity on this and other matters. The two have been discussing this for weeks, and we do not believe Zionist Union would oppose it at this point.
"It may happen next week, or it may not happen for awhile, but this is the direction we are going in," the Likud official added.
Commenting on the story, Herzog said it was “nonsense.” Rivlin's office had no comment.
It is no secret Netanyahu has been anxious to expand his government for some time now, considering the fact that the coalition contains only 61 members.
Speaking earlier this week, Knesset speaker Yuli Edelstein hinted at the government's expansion, saying that “the makeup of the coalition is likely to change after the budget is approved” at the end of August.
It was unlikely that the current government would fall apart, because, he said, “no one is interested in having elections now."