Palestinian-Israeli parties back Gantz for PM in break with precedent

Palestinian members of Knesset are backing ex-military chief Benny Gantz as the country's next prime minister in a break with precedent, they announced on Sunday.

The mainly Arab Joint List alliance made the announcement at roughly the same time as its leader, Ayman Odeh, published an opinion piece on the New York Times website speaking of the move.

It was the first time since 1992 that majority Arab parties have endorsed a candidate for prime minister.

Shortly later, Odeh told Israeli President Reuven Rivlin the alliance's priority was to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from power, and was therefore recommending Gantz.

He made the comments as Rivlin consulted with Israeli political parties on who should form the next government following Tuesday's deadlocked general elections.

The Joint List won 13 seats in the election, making them the third-largest force in the 120-seat legislature.

One party within the alliance, accounting for three seats, signalled it was against the decision.

Even with the endorsement of all 13 seats, Gantz and his centrist Blue and White alliance would fall short of 61 needed for a majority. 

He is expected to have the endorsement of 57 seats during Rivlin's consultations. Netanyahu is expected to receive 55.

Rivlin has said he believes a unity government should include both Netanyahu's Likud and Blue and White in order to create a stable coalition.

The Joint List coalition is made up of four major Palestinian-Israeli parties. There are major ideological differences between them – the list includes the left-wing Hadash group and the Arab nationalist National Democratic Assembly (Balad).

If Joint List head Ayman Odeh, 44, becomes opposition leader, he would obtain monthly briefings from the Mossad intelligence agency and meet visiting heads of state, among other extras.

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