Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday at a meeting of the members of the right-wing bloc that moves on the Left to pass legislation that would block him from serving as prime minister "undermined democracy and the will of the voters."
Speaking at a press conference, Netanyahu said that "Gantz has gone against public opinion by joining forces with the supporters of terrorism on the Joint Arab List. The people's opinion is clear. The public gave me more votes than any other candidate for prime minister, ever. We had a knockout.
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"Gantz said before the election that he would not be dependent on the Joint Arab List, now he depends on it for everything. Gantz is trying to steal the election. My friends and I won't allow that to happen."
"The national Zionist camp has 58 seats. The left-wing Zionist camp has 47. The Joint Arab List, which attacks our soldiers and opposes the State of Israel isn't part of that equation."
Gantz tweeted in response to Netanyahu's remarks: "Bibi, drink some water, wait for the final results, and promise that you'll honor them."
Netanyahu spoke after Meretz Chairman Nitzan Horowitz on Wednesday called on Blue and White to form a government on the basis of a law that would prevent a prime minister under indictment from forming a government.
As Netanyahu is facing corruption charges in three cases and his trial is set to begin on March 17, the move clearly seeks to block his path to office.
The Central Election Committee is still tallying up the ballots cast in Monday's elections. Exit polls so far have given the Likud a clear win, with 36 seats, while challenger Blue and White has won 33 seats. The right-wing bloc has 58 seats and the Center-Left bloc – 40.
The Joint Arab List won 15 seats and Yisrael Beytenu won seven mandates and remains the key to a potential coalition.
According to Horowitz, "The new Knesset has an absolute majority [62 MKs] that would back a law barring a prime minister facing criminal charges from taking office. That is the right thing do to, politically. It reflects the wishes of the majority of voters and it is also morally appropriate."
Joint Arab List MK Ahmad Tibi also joined the initiative, saying: "We will support a bill that prohibits a criminal defendant from forming a government."
Blue and White MK Ofer Shelah noted that "the most important thing right now is to make sure that Benjamin Netanyahu does not form a government. Then we will see how we move forward."
Yamina Chairman Naftali Bennett said in response: "The initiative by Ahmad Tibi and Ofer Shelah to pass the 'Netanyahu's disqualification law' is an extremely anti-democratic move, which spits in the face of half of the Israeli public.
"The elections were held only two days ago and already there are those who are trying to circumvent the will of the people by improper means. Yamina will absolutely oppose this move and fight it with all our might."
Bennett's party colleague Ayelet Shaked said, "The camp who hails democracy is trying to pass legislation to cancel out the election results, with help from supporters of terrorism. [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan couldn't do it any better."
"Why go round and round? Pass a law saying Gantz is prime minister – not for four years, but for 40," Shaked added.
Shas leader Arye Deri called the idea of "passing a law after the election and after the public has spoken that would prevent Netanyahu from serving as prime minster is a disgrace and violates all the rules of the political game.
"Blue and White is willing to sacrifice the good of the country and unity among the people on the altar of its personal hatred for Netanyahu, which they have in common with [Yisrael Beytenu leader] Avigdor Lieberman and the Joint Arab List. I thought they learned their lesson that 'Anyone but Bibi' isn't an agenda and isn't a work plan," Deri said.
