Arab lawmaker says joining coalition would legitimize Israeli occupation

The leading elected Palestinian leader in Israel tells Al-Monitor that while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s vicious racism led Arab voters to the polls, the Arab coalition still cannot join a ruling coalition.
Members of the Joint List Ahmad Tibi (C) speaks to the press in the presence of Ayman Odeh (R) and Mansour Abbas (L) following their consulting meeting with Israeli President, to decide who to task with trying to form a new government, in Jerusalem on September 22, 2019. (Photo by Menahem KAHANA / AFP) (Photo credit should read MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images)
Joint List lawmaker Ahmad Tibi (C) speaks to the press in the presence of colleagues Ayman Odeh (R) and Mansour Abbas (L) following their meeting with Israeli president on who to task with forming a new government, Jerusalem, Sept. 22, 2019. - MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images
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Daoud Kuttab
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Ahmad Tibi, the head of the Arab Movement for Change, a leading Arab party in Israel, told Al-Monitor that despite supporting Benny Gantz to set up the next coalition government, the Joint List will not be part of the next government in Israel because that would legitimize the occupation.

“The Joint list can’t be part of a governing coalition because that would make us responsible for the decisions taken by the government,” he said.

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