Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told MK Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) that he is keeping the job of Foreign Minister unmanned, in the hope of placing Labor leader Yitzhak Herzog there if and when Labor joins the government, but added that “it won't happen soon” – reports Channel 2.

Netanyahu appointed Hotovely Deputy Foreign Minister, but there will not be a minister for her to answer to, for now.

The prime minister reportedly told Hotovely that he will give her full responsibility in the Foreign Ministry during her term as deputy minister.

Labor has repeatedly denied any intention of joining Netanyahu's government. Herzog even said earlier this week that he prefers return elections over joining a “government of national failure.”