Benny Gantz: the lesser of two evils for Palestinians

The Joint List announced Sept. 22 its decision to recommend Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz as a candidate for prime minister. Its decision, a first for Arabs in Israel, sent shockwaves through the West Bank and Gaza, not just inside Israel.

The alliance, formed by several Arab parties in Israel — namely the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality, the southern branch of the Islamic Movement, the Arab Movement for Renewal and the National Democratic Alliance — won 13 seats in the Israeli elections Sept. 17, thus becoming the third largest party in the 120-member Israeli Knesset.

Joint List member Osama Saadi told Al-Monitor, “Our recommendation aims at overthrowing Benjamin Netanyahu and preventing him from maintaining his program of annexing the Jordan Valley and the West Bank settlements. We do not believe Gantz to be a symbol of peace, but he was chosen based on the lesser of two evils principle. The decision was taken following extensive discussions, and it was opposed by some members of the list whom we respect.”

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem told the Gaza-based Safa news agency Sept. 23 that “it is surprising for Palestinians to bet on an extremist Zionist party. The Blue and White party denies us our rights and incites aggression against Gaza. Its leaders committed crimes against us. Gantz was the Israeli army's chief of staff who oversaw the 2014 offensive on the Gaza Strip.”