The Likud party will make a renewed effort to get the Labor party to join the coalition, perhaps even in the framework of a national unity government, a Likud official said Thursday. The plan does not mean Labor would join the coalition at the expense of Habayit Hayehudi, but the national religious party may choose to exit the coalition over the move or a future diplomatic process with the Palestinians, one Likud official said. A source familiar with the issue said Likud's move was prompted by U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East and the potential launch of what he called "a serious diplomatic process." Trump has made it clear that he would like to form a coalition of moderate Arab countries in cooperation with Israel to fight terrorism. According to the official, this diplomatic move would be "significantly different" from any previous effort, which is why Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would like to secure the support of as many parties as possible within the coalition. Ahead of the 2015 general election, Labor partnered with Hatnuah to form the Zionist Union faction. While it is unclear at this time whether Likud's offer to Labor includes Hatnuah, the official said that party leader Tzipi Livni has signaled that she would be willing to join the government should a new diplomatic process emerge. A senior Likud official said the beginning of a diplomatic process may coincide with Labor's primaries. The first round of the party's internal elections has been set for July 3. If a second round proves necessary, this has been set for July 13. Likud officials believe that if incumbent Labor leader Isaac Herzog is re-elected, Likud would find it easier to bring Labor into the coalition. The move may prove harder if another candidate wins the primaries but efforts will continue nonetheless, one official said. Herzog's associates said Thursday that he has not been approached by any Likud official with an offer to join the government, but if an offer is made, it would be given due consideration. "Herzog has already proved that the only consideration that guides him is the practical one and nothing else. Naturally, a serious diplomatic process is a precondition for any government Labor will join," one Labor official said.
