Sources in the Likud told Israel Hayom that despite denials by Justice Minister Gideon Sa'ar and his party, talks have been ongoing in recent weeks between Likud members and close associates of Sa'ar's on forming an alternative government.
Likud officials claim that within Sa'ar's faction there are those who understand that it is no longer possible to continue within the current framework and are willing to cooperate with the Likud.
They say that Sa'ar, for his part, is not quite ready for negotiations, so the chances of him agreeing to sit in a Netanyahu-led government are slim at best.