Eisenkot Reaches Out to Arab Parties in Bid for Coalition Government
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Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, has begun talks with Israel's Arab parties as he tries to assemble a coalition after the recent elections, setting out conditions that include recognition of Israel as a Jewish state and Hamas as a terrorist organization.
Gadi Eisenkot, the leader of the Yashar party, has made his first outreach to Israel's Arab parties, a move that could prove decisive in forming a government after the recent elections. In a statement on Saturday, Eisenkot laid out conditions that any potential coalition partner would be expected to accept, including recognizing Israel as a Jewish state and acknowledging Hamas as a terrorist organization.
Eisenkot's bloc secured 48 seats, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc received 53. A majority in the Knesset requires at least 61 seats, but a minority government could also be viable if it attracts more support than opposition. Even with Eisenkot's stated principles, the path forward remains difficult, especially because Avigdor Lieberman of the Yisrael Beitenu party has said he will not back a government that depends on Arab party support.
In addition, Yousef Jabareen, leader of the Arab Joint List, refused to describe Hamas as a terrorist group, which is a central requirement for Eisenkot's coalition. Jabareen said, "I'm not in an interrogation room" when pressed on the matter. The Arab Joint List has condemned the recent violence and said high voter turnout in the Arab community was driven by incitement from figures such as Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's national security minister.
Eisenkot has promised to end Hamas's rule in Gaza within 18 months if he becomes prime minister, but it is still unclear whether Arab parties would support further military action. President Isaac Herzog is expected to consult with party leaders on Wednesday to decide who will be tasked with forming the government, with a 28-day mandate to do so.