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Attempts to form a coalition government in Israel have apparently made little progress over the last several days, according to both Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett.

Lapid, who heads Yesh Atid the second largest party in the Knesset, and Bennett, the leader of the Jewish Home party, have seemingly entered into a pact whereby neither will join a coalition without the other. So far, this alliance has proved a stumbling block to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempts to build a government headed by his Likud-Beteinu faction.

Speaking at their respective faction meetings, both Lapid and Bennett expressed disappointment that Netanyahu has yet to address policy issues during coalition talks. Bennett told Jewish Home’s Knesset members, “As soon as [Likud Beytenu] decides to conduct negotiations, I believe it will take 24 hours to reach an agreement. But important principles must be resolved before portfolios.” It is thought that Jewish Home rejected an offer last week of a series of ministerial positions to become the first party to agree joining the coalition.

Striking a similar tone, Lapid told his party’s parliamentarians, “What matters is not portfolios but where Netanyahu wants to lead the nation, to what goals, and according to what values… Once he knows that, it will be easy to form a government.” Lapid vowed that Yesh Atid would “stick to our values and principles.”

Meanwhile, it was suggested by Israel’s Channel Ten, that Tzipi Livni, head of the Hatnuah party is close to agreeing becoming Justice Minister in a Netanyahu-led government, a position that she previously held in Ariel Sharon’s administration. However, Labour Party leader Shelly Yachimovich refuted suggestions that she could be tempted to join Netanyahu’s coalition, describing a potential offer as a “honey trap.”