The head of the Joint Arab List running in the upcoming election for the 22nd Knesset on September 17, 2019, MK Ayman Odeh, announced he will be the first Israeli Arab Opposition Head in Knesset following elections.

Odeh last week stated he is willing to consider entering a coalition government headed by Blue & White party chairman, MK Benny Gantz, if his demands are met, as reported by YWN-Israel earlier.

His statement was rejected by members of Blue & White, leading to Odeh’s latest statement on Sunday to KAN Reshet Bet Radio, that if Gantz forms a coalition government, he will serve as head of the opposition.

Odeh rejected statements by MK Avigdor Lieberman, the chairman of the Yisrael Beitenu party, who accuses him of releasing the statements that he is cooperating with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. He added, “I am as far from Netanyahu as one can be. Bibi wants to oust me from Knesset. Gantz doesn’t want Arabs in the coalition. Who is serving Netanyahu, me or Gantz?”

“The left-wing Zionists do not understand our weight. He is a racist. Where is Gantz’s political plan. I haven’t heard it”, Odeh exclaimed.

During a motzei Shabbos interview on the Channel 12 TV Meet the Press show, Gantz stated that he would not bring any party into his coalition that does not recognize the State of Israel as being a Jewish democratic State.

Gantz promises to build a coalition that would serve all residents of Israel, Jews and Arabs, but he will not bring any party that does not recognize Israel as a Jewish democratic state into his coalition.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)