Middle East Monitor / February 7, 2020
A senior Blue and White lawmaker affirmed yesterday that the party has no intention of cooperating with the Joint List after the coming election.
As reported by right-wing news outlet Arutz Sheva, MK Yoaz Hendel was being interviewed by Radio 103FM on the subject of next month’s elections, and possible coalition permutations.
“Anyone who does not believe in the State of Israel as Jewish and democratic will not be our partner in anything,” Hendel said, a reference to Joint List members’ demand for a state of all its citizens.
Hendel also rejected the idea that Israel could go to a fourth election, commenting: “I think the feeling of responsibility will increase in the end among various parties in the State of Israel.”
The Blue and White (Kahol Lavan) parliamentarian also explained that he was in favour of Israeli annexation of West Bank territory, adding: “I think it should be done from an Israeli consensus”.
“There is an important process here that has happened in the State of Israel and this is a broad consensus on our strategic security interests. I would not want it to turn into an election spin.”
Earlier this week, Arutz Sheva noted, Shas chair Aryeh Deri had claimed that Yisrael Beiteinu party leader Avigdor Lieberman had made a deal with Blue and White to help support a government led by the party, also backed by the Joint List.
Hendel dismissed such speculation, saying Blue and White would work towards forming a “Zionist unity government” with or without Likud.
