Leader of Blue and White, Benny Gantz, predicted on Tuesday his alliance would win 40 seats in the April 9 election, but ruled out sitting with Arab parties that "go against the State of Israel".
In three televised interviews on Tuesday Gantz said he "can't have any political discourse" with Arab parties while accusing Israeli Arab politicians of "speaking against the State of Israel."
"They have made a big mistake," he argued, referring to Israeli Arab political leaders.
"When I'll … form a government, I don't intend to cooperate with those who go against the State of Israel," Gantz told Channel 13 News.
Israeli Arabs "are equal citizens" who should not "follow those who act against Israel. They don't serve their interests and are irrelevant" to any future Israeli government.
"The day when their leaders present a positive agenda will be the day we could consider them as partners," Gantz said, adding that there is "no one to speak to" on the Palestinian side.
The Blue and White leader also said he isn't "ashamed to use the word 'peace,' it's something we should aspire to."
Gantz also reiterated his election campaign promise to strengthen major Jewish settlements as well as boosting security in the Jordan Valley.
Gantz lashed out against his rival, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he would hold "any debate at any place."
"I think that at his core, Benjamin Netanyahu is not corrupt. But something happened there, I can't explain it. I don't know what happened between 2015 and 2019," Gantz told Channel 12 and Channel 13.
