President Reuven Rivlin discouraged Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz from forming a minority government with the outside support of the Joint Arab List, according to a Kan News report on Monday.

Rivlin said that he wasn’t opposed to the principle of Arab parties supporting the government but believes that a minority government would be unable to effectively lead Israel and would definitely not help repair the rifts in Israeli society.

Rivlin told a group of visiting ambassadors on Monday that third elections are definitely possible, according to a Jerusalem Post report. He added that most Israeli citizens are against it and third elections will cause further rifts in Israeli society.

“We must find a way for the two major parties to join forces,” he said, “but it seems that their leaders want another election. This is already too much democracy. Two elections in a year are enough.”

Rivlin said on a visit to Netivot on Sunday: “Enough! We don’t need another round of elections. I call on both Likud and Blue and White to get a grip and understand that the people don’t want more elections. They’ve had enough of elections. You’re the representatives of the ruling power but don’t forget that the people are the ruling power.”

“Your personal problems can be solved,” Rivlin continued, “but Israel’s citizens come before everything else.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)