Arab Palestinian Parties in Israel Choose Gantz for PM

Jerusalem, MINA – The alliance of Palestinian parties in Israel, Arab Joint List supports Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz for Israeli Prime Minister.

The dramatic political decision seemed to pave the way for middle party to get first gap in Israeli Knesset and could prevent Benjamin Netanyahu to become Prime Minister again, the Times of Israel reported on Monday, September 23.

With this support, Gantz won two seats against Netanyahu, 57-50.

The decision marked the first time Arab parties separately or together recommended mainstream Zionist politicians since 1992, when they supported Labor Party leader Yitzhak Rabin who campaigned peacefully with Palestinians.

“We have seen the most difficult election since 1948 in terms of incitement against Israeli Arabs,” Joint List leader Ayman Odeh told President Reuven Rivlin after issuing his party’s recommendations.

“We have turned into an illegal group in Israeli politics. If we were pushed out, we would take the appropriate place. For us, the most important thing is to get rid of Benjamin Netanyahu from power, “Odeh said.

“So we will recommend Benny Gantz to form the next government,” he added.

His Knesset colleague, Ahmad Tibi, said the decision was made even though the party was skeptical about Gantz, the former chief of staff of Israeli Defense Force (IDF) who led 2014 Israeli war against militant groups in Gaza Strip.

“Benny Gantz is not our tea cup. We have a lot of criticisms of it, especially regarding Gaza, “Tibi said. “But when we told our public that we would do everything, we could to remove Netanyahu from power, we realized that we needed to take bold steps.”

With the support, Arab Joint List holds 13 of 120 Knesset seats, Gantz is expected to receive 57 recommended seats for the post of prime minister, compared to 55 right-wing and religious leaders of Netanyahu.

Blue and White will win two more seats than Likud in Tuesday’s election, reinforcing the prospect that Gantz will likely be given the first chance to build the next government.

Netanyahu on Sunday evening condemned the Joint List’s support of Gantz when Palestinian Arab alliance met with Rivlin to issue their recommendations. (T/Sj/P2)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)