
With elections days away, and Labor-Hatnua leading in the polls, Likud members have begun to worry the ruling party may lose the premiership after March 17.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is busy trying to get constituents to come out to vote for him in large numbers, but sources close to Netanyahu say a unity government with Labor leader Yitzhak Herzog may be necessary for Likud to keep power.
According to Channel Ten, Netanyahu has been campaigning harder than in previous elections, with Likud threatening on its election broadcasts that the right-wing may sit in the opposition come the 20th Knesset.
A unity government with Herzog might be the solution to that should Labor-Hatnua come out on top in the polls, and some Likudniks are even admitting as such.
Several sources close to the Prime Minister revealed to Channel Ten on Wednesday that a unity government and a rotation deal with Herzog had not been ruled out, especially after the publication of surveys showing a gap of three seats between Likud and Labor.
Netanyahu, for his part, continues to argue his opposition to such a deal. In an interview with Makor Rishon to be published at the end of this week, Netanyahu made clear he would not sit in the same government as Labor-Hatnua's "Zionist Union."
"There is a concerted effort, both political and financial, to bring down the Likud government under my leadership, and replace it with a leftist government headed by Tzipi [Livni] and Buji," he explained.
While a unity government may be one option for worried Likudniks, others are hoping the slow showing in recent polls will inspire right-wing voters to leave Jewish Home and give support to Netanyahu at the last minute.
Furthermore, even if Labor-Hatnua receives the most mandates, its likelihood of forming a coalition remains problematic.
A number of the parties the "Zionist Union" would theoretically try to bring together have already refused to sit with each other, such as Meretz with Yisrael Beytenu and the haredi parties with Yesh Atid.