"There's no chance we join Benny Gantz," Defense Minister Naftali Bennett has recently said behind closed doors in discussions with his staff about the upcoming general election on March 2, amid speculation that his right-wing Yamina party could join a coalition with the Blue and White leader to help him form the next government.
With his comments, Bennett is seeking to avoid clashing with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who on a daily basis accuses him and Yamina co-leader Ayelet Shaked of looking to join Gantz after the election.
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"I'm a right-wing person. Period. Not a centrist, not half-right. Blue and White's entire worldview stems from the opinions of [MK] Ofer Shelah, who influences Yair Lapid, who influences Blue and White. A partnership of this sort is destined to fail. It's not something that can last," Bennett said.
Bennet also sees himself as someone who, in the future, can lead the right-wing camp, and that joining forces with Gantz would effectively eliminate such aspirations.
According to Bennett, even if Blue and White promises him the Defense portfolio, which he currently holds, he won't join the party. "I won't be the one who is used to remove Netanyahu from the stage, take him out of political life, and then who knows what would happen. It won't happen," he stated.
Bennett, along with other politicians, says there's real concern about a fourth election, but also sees a solution.
"I believe that if we're missing just three or four mandates, it'll be possible to 'scrape' partners from the other side," he said.
Gantz, meanwhile, said on Monday that the Joint Arab List, currently made up four Arab-majority parties, will not be invited to join the next government if he wins the upcoming general election.
The former IDF chief of staff said, "I am not afraid to speak to any legitimate political party, but the Joint List will not be part of the government I form."
Gantz made the remarks while touring Arab Israeli communities in the north of Israel, and vowed to implement US President Donald Trump's peace plan if he succeeds in toppling Netanyahu.
"I intend to implement President Trump's peace plan, in coordination with all the elements in the region, and see it as a significant milestone," he added.
The comments came after Ayman Odeh, leader of the Joint Arab List, said he would not lend his support to Gantz unless he clearly states he rejects two main aspects of the Trump peace proposal.
Odeh specifically highlighted his opposition to annexation of the Jordan Valley and demanded that Gantz reject a clause that could see some Arab Israeli towns become part of a future Palestinian state.
Parts of this article were originally published by i24NEWS.
