Citing his alliance with Bennett, Joint List says it can’t endorse Lapid for PM

The Joint List will not endorse a candidate for prime minister.

Leader Ayman Odeh says his party opposes Likud’s Benjamin Netanyahu, not merely because of his corruption trial, but primarily because of Israel’s control over the Palestinians, the prime minister’s economic policies, and his attempts to undermine the country’s democracy.

Odeh says he respects Yair Lapid, noting the Yesh Atid leader’s statement during the election campaign that the Joint List could join a coalition. But Lapid’s emerging partnerships with right-wing parties, namely Yamina’s Naftali Bennett, means the Joint List could not endorse him, says Odeh.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Yair Lapid (R). (Flash90)

He says they are still willing to endorse Lapid, but only if he does not partner with right-wing parties. Lapid has no chance of forming a government without the right-wing Yamina, New Hope, and Yisrael Beytenu.

MK Ahmad Tibi says Lapid is a “worthy candidate.”

Tibi says the Joint List hoped to be the “decisive vote” on which candidate would get first shot at forming a coalition.

“If every one of our votes had been decisive, we would have voted [for a candidate],” says Tibi.