This time frame has now been reduced by 24 hours after a midnight sitting by the High Court ordered the Knesset to sit today. High Court will have to wear what happens when that session starts – if Netanyahu and Liberman have not buried their differences by then.

Your suggestion is a recipe for total chaos and instability that needs to be avoided at all costs. What has been happening in last few days makes a national unity Government between Gantz and Netanyahu most unlikely. The best option to avoid a fourth election is a Netanyahu-Liberman Government – that should have been formed after the first inconclusive election with a little give and take by both Netanyahu and Liberman. Israel has gone through a lot of pain since then.

Edelstein’s principled resignation as Speaker has now given Netanyahu and Liberman another 48 hours to reach agreement before the Knesset reopens and all hell breaks out.