The Balad faction in the Joint List of predominantly Arab parties explained, Sunday evening, why it was not part of the Joint List delegation that recommended Benny Gantz to form the next government, saying Balad did not want to recommend anyone.
With the understanding that Balad would not recommend Prime Minister and Likud Party Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu, a party statement said, "Balad's position is not to recommend Gantz either because of his right-wing political positions, which are not very different from those of the Likud, and because of his bloody and aggressive military history." In addition, Balad noted that "Blue and White completely ignored the demands of the Joint List, and strongly refused to discuss them or commit to anything formally and publicly. Each of these reasons is enough not to recommend Gantz, and certainly when all of these reasons exist."