Joint List endorses Gantz to form government

Balad head Mtanes Shehadeh told Rivlin that his party also did not want to back anyone this time but the party decided that the unity of the list was more important.

By GIL HOFFMAN
President Reuven Rivlin meets with representatives of the Joint List on March 15, 2020 (photo credit: Mark Neiman/GPO)
President Reuven Rivlin meets with representatives of the Joint List on March 15, 2020
(photo credit: Mark Neiman/GPO)
The 15 MKs of the Joint List recommended to President Reuven Rivlin that Blue and White leader Benny Gantz form the government in consultations on Sunday at the President's Residence.
With the endorsement from the entire Joint List, Gantz could end up receiving a majority of 61 MKs if he also gets the backing of Yisrael Beytenu.
Joint List head Ayman Odeh told Rivlin his party was backing Gantz was "out of hatred for Haman," using a term from last week's Purim holiday to describe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"If Gantz or Netanyahu go to a unity government of an emergency government, we ill oppose it," Odeh said. "But we will recommend Gantz to form the govt if he tries to form a Center-Left government."
After the September election, 10 of the 13 Joint List MKs recommended Gantz and the three MKs of the Joint List's Balad party did not recommend anyone. This time, Balad joined the other three parties in the Joint List in recommending Gantz.
Balad head Mtanes Shehadeh told Rivlin that his party also did not want to back anyone this time but the party decided that the unity of the list was more important.
"We have to be united, and it is no secret that we also want to replace Netanyahu," Shehadeh said. "We had to give whatever small chance there is for change."
The Likud bashed Blue and White for seeking a minority government that it said would be "dependent on Balad, Heba Yazbak and terror supporters, instead of joining a national emergency government that could save lives." The Likud complained that Gantz has been refusing to meet with Netanyahu since Thursday.
Earlier, the Likud recommended Netanyahu to form a government and Blue and White recommended Gantz.
Rivlin told the Likud representatives that it is the Knesset that really forms the government, in a hint that he could give the mandate to the candidate who obtains a majority.
But he also said the reality of the coronavirus needed to be taken into account and therefore, there could a "temporary arrangement" at first.
"The public expects to see unity as soon as possible," Rivlin said. "No one wants a fourth election."