(Israel Hayom via JNS) Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett denied rumors that he intends to ask the Joint Arab List to shore up his shaky coalition following the resignation last week of Yamina Knesset member Idit Silman.

“The Joint Arab list is not in the government nor will it be,” he said.

Bennett criticized Joint List chairman Ayman Odeh over his call for Arab members of Israel’s security forces to lay down their arms.

Addressing Arabs serving in the security forces, Bennett said, “I am proud of you. The people of Israel are proud of you. We love you. Don’t give in to this bullying.”

The Israeli premier also lauded Mansour Abbas, the head of the Ra’am Party, saying, “This is a collaboration with a leader from Arab society who recognizes the State of Israel as Jewish, who is moderate, who tries to bridge [the sectors], who wants to help in the war on crime in the Arab sector—and we’re doing all of that.”

Asked if he would ever consider collaborating with opposition leader and former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Bennett replied, “I don’t veto it—enough with that. What the public needs is not a veto but rather for all of us to sit together. Netanyahu is not an enemy. He has done many things but it’s time to move on.”